In the Spring of 1941 *, the US Census discovered a major embarrassment : it counted far fewer young black men in April 1940 than did the draft registration process in October of that same year, only five months later.
Three percent of draft age men were missed by the census overall, but a whooping 13% of blacks - an even higher difference in the correct count in inner city places like Harlem New York.
This (fiscally important) undercounting of the poor and minorities has never really stopped and probably never will --- not if Republican congressmen have any say in the matter.
But it might mean a little bit of information on Aaron Alston may still be found found on the (sealed) US draft registration card made out for Alston October 16 1940 at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center , the same day he was becoming one of history's first antibiotics patients.
My forthcoming biography "The OTHER Manhattan Project" celebrates the 75 years since Dr Dawson birthed Antibiotics in Manhattan on October 16th 1940. This project was more from Venus than Mars, more Emma Lazarus than Gordon Gekko. Defying governments, defying Allied/Axis eugenics, even defying the team's physical disabilities. But in the end, Manhattan beaconed the right of EVERYONE to receive life-saving penicillin out to a world tired, huddled and wretched.
Showing posts with label a check on under-enumeration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label a check on under-enumeration. Show all posts
Thursday, June 12, 2014
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