An Autobiographical Note

Herbert Aptheker

In 1946 I frequently published essays in various periodicals and journals. Among these, two brought me great satisfaction. One, in New Masses, February 12, 1946, was entitled "Integration among Combat Troops in World War II." This detailed the employment of black-white mixed combat infantry companies during the closing weeks of the war. This was not only of major military consequence; it demonstrated also how quickly racism could be overcome if the reality of joint black-white struggle came into existence.	1
The second essay, "Literacy, the Afro-American, and World War II," appeared in the Journal of Negro Education, Fall 1946. It described tests in learning and comprehension administered by the army to scores of thousands of black and white troops. This resulted in slightly better achievements by the black men than the white—a smashing blow to the ideas of black inferiority that then were dominant and still are not overcome.	2
Major-General Edward Witsell, of the War Department, asked me, in a letter dated August 17, 1948, for permission to reprint that article for distribution among officers in his command. Permission was granted; the general thanked me for this in a letter dated September 3; he added that the editor of the Journal of Negro Education also had granted permission. Enclosed were two copies of this offprint.	3
Two years later I received a three-page single-spaced letter from another army officer, C. A. Beall Jr. This communication, dated November 6, 1950, was marked "Confidential." I received it on Armistice Day. It was addressed to "Major Herbert Aptheker, A.U.S."	4
Here it is reproduced, in full. Its imbecility is startling. Note, as examples, charge "s," where allegedly I state that the Communist party is the "only champion of the Negro race which is fighting for their emancipation from the tentacles of the masses." This lunacy is matched by charge "t," where I am alleged to have said—and this is put with quotation marks—"the only way defects in our government could be remedied was by an armed conspiracy." Noteworthy is the emphasis upon my connection with "the Negro"—this reflects, I think, the racism then openly expounded by Washington and especially by the fanatical J. Edgar Hoover.	5
CONFIDENTIAL AGPR-F 201 Aptheker, Herbert S: 6 Dec 50 01168538 (6 NOV 50) 6 November 1950 SUBJECT: Allegations TO: Major Herbert Aptheker, AUS 1015 Washington Avenue Brooklyn 25, New York 1. The following allegations are on file in the Department of the Army: . . .