African Americans During Ww2 Essay

Before WORLD WAR I, military service represented a source of black pride. Black educators, clergymen, and the press frequently referred to Negro heroes of America’s past wars. After the Civil War, the U.S, Army maintained four regular Negro regiments –the 9th and 10th Calvary and the 24th and 25th Infantry. These units included veterans of the civil war and the frontier Indian fighting regiments. Retired sergeants often became respected, conservative leaders in their communities. This history set a foundation for black support and involvement in America’s future wars.

Enrollment began in September of 1862 (Allen 225). Thousands of black men enlisted. They would be commanded, led, and trained by all white officers. There were not to be any black officers commissioned and all African American soldiers were to be regarded as laborers. They would receive less pay than a white soldier. Instead of $13 plus clothing expenses, they would only receive $10 without clothing expenses (The American Civil War: A Multicultural Encyclopedia 55).

Despite the racism and segregation in the U.S. military, there were more than 2 and a half million African American men registered with the military draft. More than 1 million served

As war spread across Europe in 1914-1918, black Americans saw a second opportunity in which they could use the war to their advantage, in securing the respect of their white neighbours. This contemporary conflict brought about great controversy within the black community, being asked to fight for a democracy on behalf of a country in which they did not receive equal treatment. Many activists did support the war effort, including DuBois announcing ‘while the war lasts [blacks] must forget [their] special grievances … fight shoulder to shoulder with white fellow citizens… For democracy’ (Heinze, 2003). Paradoxically, when it came to the drafting of the volunteers, blacks came under a total polarization of customary discriminatory practice. Blacks were instructed to tear corners of their registry cards, thus becoming easily identified, to be inducted separately to white volunteers. (Murray, 1971). Now, under usual circumstances, the Black citizens would be turned away, the war office began doing all they could within their power to bring them into service, and surprisingly, this was most common among the Southern boards, demonstrated by the Confederate army during the civil war. The army established a more progressive attitude toward race relations than mainland America, by the end of 1917, African Americans served in cavalry, infantry, medical and engineer positions. The war allowed for the black Americans to begin asserting their citizenship, protesting racial injustice on

Black initially began enrolling in the military on June 1, 1942. More than over two million African American men enlisted in the military draft, and African American ladies volunteered their administrations in the war. Amid the war, Black enrollment was at an unsurpassed

Most African American women supplied aid to black troops only, but there were few that were able to work in military hospitals wherever permitted. They fulfilled the regular duties of a nurse; they took care of the wounded and sick, went out to the battlefields to rescue the wounded, and even carried some dead off of the field. Another job that African American women held was working as spies and scouts, giving directions and information, and feeding and sheltering soldiers. The women of the South usually assisted white and black soldiers in the Union (Harper 4).

About 180,000 African American people comprised 163 units that served in the Union Army, during the time of the Civil War, and many more African American people had served in the Union Navy. Both the free African-Americans and the runaway slaves had joined the fight. On the date of July 17, in the year of 1862, the U. S. Congress had passed two very important acts that would allow the enlistment of many African Americans, but the official enrollment had occurred only after the September, 1862, issuance of the, Emancipation Proclamation. In general, most white soldiers and officers, had believed that most of the black men, who had served in the Civil War, lacked the courage, and the will to fight

They were even able to take out their enemies fast jet fighters (Reinhardt and Ganzel 1). what is socking about all of this is that these men weren't trained with guns or knives, they had to use sticks instead (Reinhardt and Ganzel 1). With all the racism still going on, one African American man said it would be an iron for him to give America his life if it didn’t want to given him basic civil rights (Reinhardt and Ganzel 2). Second of all after, returning home they were given an opportunity to join a movement for their rights (Reinhardt and Ganzel 2). The Soldier came home to a country that wasn’t granting them their full rights so some joined a movement to expand the rights (Reinhardt and Ganzel 2). Other soldiers ended up moving to the city instead so they could find work similar to what they did while at war (Reinhardt and Ganzel 2). The roles of African American minorities where change after the war because the opportunities of job openings that were given to them and because their civil rights eventually expanded.

The non-combat roles were nurses, cooks, blacksmiths, spies and scouts. Eventually over time they were allowed to participate in the combat roles. The African-American soldiers served in the Confederate Army and others would be brought along by their masters to help their masters and see what they need in camp’s. During the midpoint of the war in the year, 1863, more Confederate soldiers were needed, so state militias of freed black men were offered to the Confederate war but the office refused.

During American involvement in the war, African Americans were listed and reenlisted on the military draft at higher rates than any other nationalities including whites and Latin-Americans (Westheider 9). As a result, more African Americans than any othe r minority fought and died in combat. In addition, they constantly faced racism. One militant protested forcefully against the unfair conditions: “You should see for yourself how the black man is being treated over here and the ay we are dying. When it comes to rank, we are left out. When it comes to special privileges, we are left out. When it comes to patrols, perataions and so forth, we are first” (Gallagher). According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., black youths represented an unequal share of early draftees and faced a significantly higher chance of seeing combat. “Rumors abounded that the U.S. government were using the Vietnam War as a form of genocide. Money was being pumped into Vietnam instead of poor black communities in America” (Gallegher).

Prejudice was also very evident towards African Americans in the Union forces in that they were usually assigned to labor duties, such as cleaning camps, building defenses and garrison duty, and in many cases not allowed to fight. Up until 1864, there was even a difference in pay for black soldiers, and they were not allowed to be commissioned officers.

The postwar period starting in 1945 was a time of economic boom and a shared sense of unity in the United States, or so it seemed. Although the unemployment rate was zero percent women and African American workers were becoming increasingly unhappy with their roles in the American post-war economy. Employment of women in America was at an all-time high reaching 19 million by 1945. However, the traditional gender roles between men and women created tension after the war due to women’s push for opportunity outside of their typical roles at home. In the post-war period, African American workers were still feeling a sense of segregation and inequality in the workforce. They were usually the last to be hired, especially African American women,

This was one of the things that is always in front of your culture. With all the gains of the abolition of slavery and the three Reconstruction amendments to the Constitution, Jim Crow segregation was in all fiber of American society since the 1890s. The service was no exception, black man volunteered for duty or

1917-1918: World War I: In 1917, the United States entered World War I. Despite knowing that freedom to serve their country did not guarantee full participation in American society, thousands of African Americans answered the call to duty through service in the Army. The Army operated under a policy of racial segregation and blacks were commonly relegated to supply and labor jobs.(Military Racial Policy - "Equal Opportunity") There were, however, active black combat units that made notable contributions. 1917: Harlem Hellfighters. On

The fight against fascism during World War II had also brought to the forefront the contradictions between America’s ideals of democracy and equality and its treatment of racial minorities. (Staff) How can a nation who opposed Hitler’s views and his suppression of other nations when within in the United States freedom was limited for African Americans? The United States Army created separate regiments that where divided by color and imposed a “Caucasian” commanding officer to oversee there activates. Many argued that the treatment African Americans received where no better than the pre-civil war era. This awareness of racism would reach popular culture. Josh Whitea blues musician who wrote songs pointing out the discrimination experienced by