WWII Blood



Dr. Charles Drew was a famous African-American physician and medical researcher. His research helped develop methods for processing and preserving blood plasma (blood without cells)...allowing blood plasma to be "dried" and stored for long periods of time before being reconstituted into whole blood. 

 



D-Day Blood Transfusion

 

In 1940, Drew led an effort to collect and process blood plasma (to be used by wounded British soldiers) from several New York City hospitals known as "Blood for Britain"...the world's first ever "Blood Bank."  In that same year, he was chosen to develop a pilot program for blood collection in New York City...which became the model for the American Red Cross National Blood Bank.

 

NAACP Poster protesting...

Jim Crow "Segregated Blood" Policy

 

Unfortunately, by order of U.S. government and military authorities, the Red Cross was only allowed to collect blood from white Americans...all African-Americans were rejected as potential donors. With thousands of African-American troops being drafted, the policy of "accepting only white blood" led to outrage in the NAACP, black newspapers, and African-American community. Eventually the policy was changed, but not necessarily with a better solution...

The "improved" policy (not changed until the 1960's)...African-American blood donors could give blood but it was to be stored separately, labeled accordingly, and used only for African-Americans!

"Once Again: Avoiding A Just War"

Ironically, the man who helped save thousands of lives in WWII could not save America from Jim Crow...