African-American Soldiers The Paradox of American Democracy (1944)

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African-American Soldiers The Paradox of
American Democracy
Power point created by Robert Martinez Primary
Content Source Speaking of America Vol. II, by
Laura Belmonte
http//www.buffalosoldiers.com/AAChronology5.htm
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Paradox

• Paradox a contradictory or opposite statement
  that expresses a possible truth.

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World Heavyweight Boxing Champion
Joe Louis
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(No Transcript)
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Segregation

• Segregation- separation of races by law.

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• V simply represented victory for the American
  people during WWII, first victory in Europe (V-E)
  and later (V-J), victory over Japan.

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• Although WWII opened opportunities for African
  Americans, its also highlighted the paradox of
  Americas segregated democracy.

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• Accordingly, civil rights leaders called for a
  Double V campaign calling for the defeat of
  Nazism in Europe and victory over racism at home.

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• Energized by these appeals, one million African
  Americans enlisted in the armed forces, and
  thousands joined civil rights organizations like
  the NAACP.

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• The NAACP demanded anti-lynching laws, access to
  voting, and racial equality in employment,
  education, and housing.

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• In 1944, NAACP lawyers won the landmark Supreme
  Court case Smith v. Allwright, striking down
  all-white primaries in Texas.

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• Under pressure, President Franklin Roosevelt
  issued Executive Order 8802, it outlawed
  discrimination in the U.S. civil service and in
  private establishments receiving federal defense
  contracts.

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• Executive Order 8802 did not extend to the U.S.
  armed forces.

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• FDRs order enabled two million African Americans
  to attain defense jobs and another 200,000 to
  enter the workforce.

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• Black union membership doubled and African
  American wages quadrupled from 457 to 1,976 a
  year, approximately 600 less than whites.

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• The militarys record on racial equality was less
  impressive.

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• When the war began, the army and navy rarely sent
  blacks into combat and relegated them to menial
  chores like kitchen duty and burial detail.

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• The Marines refused to admit African Americans in
  any capacity.

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• The Red Cross maintained different blood supplies
  for white and black soldiers.

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• U.S. military officials deployed all-black units
  such as the 761st Tank Battalion and the 99th
  Pursuit Squadron that compiled distinguished
  records in combat against the Nazis.

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• Wartime demands forced revision of some of these
  practices.

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• By 1944, the army and navy were experimenting
  with integration. Most black soldiers, served in
  segregated companies commanded by white officers.

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• Throughout the war, African American soldiers
  bitterly complained about racial harassment on
  and near military installations.

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• Not surprisingly, black veterans were among the
  thousands of African Americans who joined the
  civil rights movement in the years following
  World War II.

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• A black soldiers writes to the president.
• Dear President Roosevelt
• It was with extreme pride that I, a
  soldier in the Armed Forcesread the following
  affirmation

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• Your use of the words all persons, regardless
  of race, color, and creed means that we are
  fighting for freedom, equality, and justice for
  our Negro Americans

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• On the home front your issuance of Executive
  Order 8802 to fight against the discriminatory
  employment practices used against
  Negroesispart of the world struggle against
  tyranny.

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• But the picture in our country is marred by one
  the strangest paradoxes in our whole fight
  against world fascism. The U.S. Armed Forces, to
  fight for World Democracy, is within itself
  undemocratic.

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• The undemocratic policy of Jim Crow and
  segregation is practiced by our Armed Forces
  against its Negro members. Totally inadequate
  opportunities are given to the Negro members

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• Negro soldiers are completely segregated from
  the white soldiers on the basethe Negro Section
  C are covered with black tar paper, while all
  other barracks and housing on the base are
  painted white.

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• Just as our government in civilian life, is
  carrying on a fight for the full integration of
  the Negroso in the Armed Forces our government
  must take up the same fight for the full
  integrationinto all phases of our fighting

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• another Executive Order is now neededwhereby
  the Negro soldiers would be integratedas
  fighting men, instead of segregatedhousekeepers.
  
• Respectfully yours,
• Charles F. Wilson, 36794590
• Private, Air Corps

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