African Americans Role In Ww2

Joven Isamer Bilog 12 Apr 2011 History 162 Section 8 America’s role in World War II was fueled by the desire to fight oppression abroad. However, America’s own oppressive behavior contradicts this desire. Segregation and discrimination were still prominent in WWII. Full citizenship rights were denied to African-Americans. The Jim Crow laws kept the separation of black and white soldiers. Black and white soldiers shared different bathrooms and were trained in different military units. African-American soldiers fought two wars: one over the Axis Powers and one with domestic racial prejudice. There is no sense for America to fight for democracy if America could not have even exemplified it. There was no motive to guide an African-American
Thompson’s words were very inspiring because he showed the perseverance to overlook all the unjust treatment and still have optimism in America. The positive assertion contributed greatly to the success of the campaign. The “Double V” campaign was one of the most extensive patriotic drives in the country during the war because it kept black America appraised of the struggle for victory overseas and victory at home through numerous publications. World War II gave African-Americans the perfect opportunity to change the ways of America. It was impeccable timing for the “Double V” campaign to start. Many African-Americans participated in the war and were willing to sacrifice their lives. There were also many African-Americans such as men in the military who questioned if was worth defending a nation representing hypocrisy. The “Double V” Campaign was started for these people who represented the common theme of discrimination. It was during World War II in which the possibility of African-Americans being heard. The connection of the two victories was clever because it demonstrated that African-Americans are fighting for everyone else and raises the question of why it is not reciprocated which shows that African-Americans are
Ronald Takaki, Double Victory: A Multicultural History of America in World War II (Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 2000), 25
[ 2 ]. Michael S. Foley, Home Fronts A Wartime America Reader (New York: The New Press, 2008), 56
[ 3 ]. Takaki, 21
[ 4 ]. Washburn, Pat The “Pittsburgh Courier’s” Double V Campaign in 1942 (1981), 4
[ 5 ]. Takaki,