Committed to racial equality, the Orlando men occasionally ran into conflict with local norms of white supremacy as they tested Jim Crow laws.  In May 1944, Orlando men gave a party honoring the graduating class of an African-American high school, and within two weeks, county commissioners asked for withdrawal of the unit.  The officials of the public health project prevailed on the commissioners to allow the work to continue; the commissioners agreed as long as those who remained would refrain from all future “interference in the racial issue”.  (Sibley and Jacob p. 159) 

While five men asked for a transfer after this incident, the rest of the men also very concerned about segregation in the South, were convinced that effective action to address inequality could be taken only by those acquainted with both the experience and perspective of Southern whites and African-Americans.  They realized that would require the gradual process of education.  This would mean observing the color line when working with white southerners to advance the physical welfare of African-Americans and offering encouragement to self-help enterprises such as co-operative stores and credit unions. 

Some of the group felt that the continuation of the public health project would benefit the African-Americans more than would the withdrawal of the unit since staying afforded the opportunity for action without strong emotional community reactions.  The Assistant Executive Director of Friends CPS, Louis Schneider, interpreted to the State Health Department and local government officials the religious belief in “the brotherhood of mankind to overcome prejudices and antagonisms”.

Finally officials agreed to “reaffirm their confidence in the good judgment of the unit concerning inter-racial activities and relationships”.  They required no rigid agreement for the men to refrain from interracial action.  They also intended to cancel requests for transfer by four men.  The four persisted to leave, however, but the rest stayed on to exercise their commitment to racial equality through a gradualist approach. 

Even so, the continued local hostility did contribute to the move of the unit to Gainesville, Florida. (Goossen).

The August 5, 1944 issue of The Cultural Rag included an invitation from the Race Study Group to join them on a trip to Griffin Park, Negro USHA public housing project.  Director James R. Walker would be giving a tour and holding a round table discussion.  Griffin Park, designed for low income families would ask families earning over $1600 with three minor children to leave. (p. 1)

The Cultural Rag began in February 1944 and continued through February 1945.  It announced events as above, reported on current and upcoming courses at the camp, new materials in the library, visitors to camp or to the area, project news, as well as news of larger issues in the CPS world. 

The men published Wakulla Newsletter in October and December of 1944 and April 1945. The April 1945 issue was produced by Ray Bowman, Curtis Johnson, George Romine, Wilmer Brandt, Ford Secrist, Winfield Skinner, Jim Wingate, Jim Godbey, Harry Graybill, Lew Woodman and Charles Davis.  It included a detailed discussion of the pros and cons of “Prescribed Burning” in the forests, an article “CPS vs. Jail” and reported on a stimulating visit by Dan West of the Brethren Service Committee the week of Feb. 23 through March 1.  The week included discussion of the Pros and Cons of the absolutist position on conscription, relief work in Spain, the future of the hookworm project, the need to develop group discipline in CPS camps to understand breakdowns in temper control and possible redirection, and the Organized Church and the Ministry. The issue introduced the expanded work with Forest Service that was begun after the move to Gainesville.