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Burlington Self-Survey on Human Relations: Final report, 1950

Page 57

57

On a questionnaire, which indicated that the dentist served Negro patients only occasionally, it was frankly state that Negro patients were not wanted:

I have a small reception room and I personally do not desire to have Negroes sitting with white patients. 
(Study #508B - Schedule #7)

In the following comment the dentist was so busy that he felt that serving Negroes would finally result in discrimination against white patients. 

Due to lack of time I am unable to take care of all the white patients who come to my office, and if I took Negro patients I would be discriminating against the white. 
(Study #508B - Schedule #16)

   In another reply the solution of the problem in Burlington would rest upon Negroes "taking unkind remarks and not retaliating. The Jackie Robinson stody would be applied." (Study #508B - Schedule #1).
   A dentist, who has never refused Negroes and who feels there is no problem in Burlington, Makes special arrangements for appointments with Negroes. He adds that they are good patients with "good,easy, flexible big mouths to operate in:

I have a number of southern women who I feel quite sure would object to association with Negroes in the office, or following a Negro in the chair. So we have arranged the Negro patients the last patient before noon, or in the evening - thereby avoiding any contact between them. We have experienced no difficulty at all with this arrangement. Or see the Negro patients in the evening and have a special evening just for them. If there is a possibility of any friction, the evening appointments solve the problem.

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57 On a questionnaire, which indicated that the dentist served Negro patients only occasionally, it was frankly state that Negro patients were not wanted: I have a small reception room and I personally do not desire to have Negroes sitting with white patients. (Study #508B - Schedule #7) In the following comment the dentist was so busy that he felt that serving Negroes would finally result in discrimination against white patients. Due to lack of time I am unable to take care of all the white patients who come to my office, and if I took Negro patients I would be discriminating against the white. (Study #508B - Schedule #16) In another reply the solution of the problem in Burlington would rest upon Negroes "taking unkind remarks and not retaliating. The Jackie Robinson stody would be applied." (Study #508B - Schedule #1). A dentist, who has never refused Negroes and who feels there is no problem in Burlington, Makes special arrangements for appointments with Negroes. He adds that they are good patients with "good,easy, flexible big mouths to operate in: I have a number of southern women who I feel quite sure would object to association with Negroes in the office, or following a Negro in the chair. So we have arranged the Negro patients the last patient before noon, or in the evening - thereby avoiding any contact between them. We have experienced no difficulty at all with this arrangement. Or see the Negro patients in the evening and have a special evening just for them. If there is a possibility of any friction, the evening appointments solve the problem.