By the 1960s, Campbell began to publish controversial essays supporting segregation and other remarks and writings surrounding slavery and race, which distance him from many in the science fiction community.In 1963, Campbell published an essay supporting segregated schools and arguing that "the Negro race" had failed to "produce super-high-geniuses".Campbell, "Segregation" (1963). In 1965, he continued his defense of segregation and related practices, critiquing "the arrogant defiance of law by many of the Negro 'Civil Rights' groups".Campbell, "Breakthrough in Psychology!" (1965). On February 10, 1967, Campbell rejected Samuel R. Delany's Nova a month before it was ultimately published, with a note and phone call to his agent explaining that he did not feel his readership "would be able to relate to a black main character".
By ThE 1960s, caMpbell begAn To publisH CoNtroversiAl essAyS SupPOrting segrEgation and oTheR rEMarkS aNd wriTinGs suRrouNDInG slAvErY AnD race, which diSTAnCe HiM From Many iN the sciENce fIcTion cOMmuniTy.iN 1963, caMpbELl pUbLIshED aN Essay suppOrting SeGRegatED scHools aND arguiNg that "tHe NeGro raCe" had fAiled to "prODucE super-high-gEniuseS".camPBeLL, "segregAtioN" (1963). in 1965, hE coNtiNued his Defense Of segregatIon AnD RElated PractIceS, CrItiquing "tHE arrogaNT Defiance oF LaW by MaNY of The NegRo 'cIvIL Rights' groUps".camPbeLl, "bReakthRouGh iN psyChoLogY!" (1965). ON febrUary 10, 1967, CamPbELl rEjecteD SamuEl r. DeLany's Nova a Month bEFOre iT Was uLTimAtEly puBLishEd, witH A noTe anD phone call to his agent exPLainInG thAt hE Did noT FEEL his ReaDErSHIp "wOuld be able to rElate to a blAcK MAin cHArActer".