James Carmichael Evans
James Carmichael Evans, born on June 1, 1900, in Gallatin, Tennessee, was a pioneering African American electrical engineer and educator. Raised in Miami, Florida, he earned his bachelor's degree from Roger Williams University and a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he became one of the first African American graduates. His career included teaching positions at Miami public schools, West Virginia State College, and Howard University, where he also held administrative roles.
Evans was not only an educator but also an inventor, known for a patented invention designed to prevent ice buildup on aircraft wings. During World War II, he served as a training specialist and later became an adviser on racial issues within the U.S. armed forces. Following President Harry S. Truman's 1948 Executive Order that mandated military integration, Evans played a critical role in advocating for and facilitating this process, promoting proposals to ensure a smoother transition. His work highlighted the importance of treating African American servicemen with dignity both within the military and in surrounding communities.
Evans's contributions to civil rights and military integration have left a lasting impact, helping shape a more inclusive environment in the modern U.S. armed forces. He passed away on April 14, 1988, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire future generations.
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Subject Terms
James Carmichael Evans
Educator and scientist
- Born: July 1, 1900
- Birthplace: Gallatin, Tennessee
- Died: April 14, 1988
- Place of death: Washington, D. C.
As a civilian assistant to the military, Evans assisted in planning and implementing the historic racial integration of the U.S. armed forces.
Early Life
James Carmichael Evans was born on June 1, 1900, in Gallatin, Tennessee. He was raised in Miami, Florida. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Roger Williams University in Nashville, Tennessee, and a master’s degree in science in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Evans was one of the first African American graduates of MIT.
Evans married Rosaline McGodwin, with whom he would have two children, Rose Evangeline and James, Jr. Evans began his professional career teaching in the Miami public schools, then joined the faculty of West Virginia State College, where he also served as a dean. He also taught at Howard University. In addition to teaching electrical engineering and university administration, Evans was a talented scientist. On March 11, 1930, he received a patent for an invention that utilized the heat from a plane’s exhaust gases to prevent the buildup of ice and sleet on the wings of an aircraft.
Life’s Work
During World War II, Evans took a leave from the faculty of West Virginia State College to serve as a training specialist for the War Manpower Commission. In 1943, he became an adviser to the U.S. armed forces on racial matters. Four years later, Evans was named a civilian aide to the secretary of the Army. From 1947 to 1949, he acted as a special assistant to Secretary of Defense James Forrestal. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which called for the integration of the armed forces. Evans worked efficiently behind the scenes to support the military as it moved toward integration, a process that took several years. There was much resistance to integration, and Evans patiently helped calm the waters. For example, the U.S. Air Force implemented Evans’s suggestion that it distribute its African American technical specialists among white Air Force units that could benefit from their technical skills. The proposal was typical of Evans’s approach: It was an unobtrusive, sensible first step in integration.
As a counselor for the assistant secretary of defense, Evans worked consistently to advance integration of the armed forces. In January, 1955, he published a study, “Integration in the Armed Services: Progress Report,” that demonstrated successful aspects of the military’s nondiscrimination policy. A persistent question in the Defense Department was the classification of soldiers by race. Evans opposed racial designations on departmental forms of the Defense Department, but because they already were in use, he worked to change the more offensive categories. For example, he pointed out how hurtful the use of the category “Negroid” was to African Americans. In 1961, he listed twenty-seven military installations in the United States where African American soldiers faced the ignominy of segregation and Jim Crow laws in the adjoining communities. Equally demoralizing, African American servicemen in foreign bases such as in Japan, Germany, and the Philippines were finding segregationist tendencies spreading to the local communities. Evans’s research suggested that it was not enough to forbid racial discrimination in the military itself; steps had to be taken to ensure that African American servicemen were treated with respect by the communities surrounding the military bases. An oral history of Evans’s experiences was recorded by the Air Force and archived at Columbia University’s Butler Library.
Evans’s son, James, followed in his father’s footsteps by attending MIT. Like his father, he was a pioneer on the MIT campus. He became the president of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, the first African American student ever to be president of an MIT fraternity.
Evans retired from teaching in 1970. In his last years, he suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. On April 14, 1988, Evans died in his Washington, D.C., home.
Significance
The integration of the U.S. armed forces in 1948 was a landmark event in civil rights history. The decision faced stiff opposition from southern segregationists, so much so that President Truman effected it by executive decree as commander-in-chief rather than risk its defeat in Congress. In his capacity as adviser to the military on racial affairs, Evans not only advocated for integration but made shrewd proposals for its smooth implementation. As integration of the military progressed, he assessed the results. Thus, Evans shares in the legacy of the historic integration of the U.S. military. By most accounts, the modern U.S. armed forces is one of the most racially integrated, harmonious, and respectful components of American society.
Bibliography
Evans, James, and David Lane. “Integration in the Armed Services.” Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 34 (March, 1956): 78-85. Article cowritten by Evans, based on his 1955 study, that gives a favorable account of the integration of the armed services.
MacGregor, Morris, Jr. Integration of the Armed Forces 1940-1965. Washington, D.C.: Center of Military History, 1985. A publication by the Army Historical Advisory Committee detailing the preparation for and aftermath of President Truman’s historic desegregation order. MacGregor singled out Evans as one of the chief sources of his book.
Mershon, Sherie, and Steven Schlossman. Foxholes and Color Lines: Desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002. A history of the desegregation of the United States military. Highlights Evans’s contribution to the effort, such as distributing black technicians among white Air Force units as a successful step toward full integration.
Webster, Raymond. African American Firsts in Science and Technology. Detroit, Mich.: Gale, 1999. Includes a description of Evans’s patented airplane deicing invention.
Yon, Richard, and Tom Lansford. “Political Pragmatism and Civil Rights Policy: Truman and Integration of the Military.” In The Civil Rights Legacy of Harry S. Truman, edited by Raymond Geselbracht. Kirksville, Mo.: Truman State University Press, 2007. Describes the successful integration of the U.S. armed forces as the most important civil rights achievement of the Truman administration.