Long before the World War II era, African Americans were confronted with more hostility than any other minority group. African American organizations had actively advocated for discriminatory changes in the American society and in military policies. The non-discrimination provision in the CNC legislation of 1943 had a positive effect on encouraging young African American women to enter the nursing profession. In particular, those women who could not afford to pay for a nursing education. Some 2,000 students attended 20 black institutions, while around 400 students were enrolled in 42 white schools.