Impact of WWII on African Americans

1
Impact of WWII on African Americans

• By Renee Cadiz, Devrina Chidambaram, Joelle
  Telloian, Valeriya Stiblina

Why die for democracy for some foreign country
when we dont even have it here? -Chicago
Defender (Newspaper)
African Americans were strongly aware of the
racism in the United States during WWII and
Americans fighting racism in Europe was
contradictory, when they didnt have equality in
America. However, they still served in WWII, with
more opportunities than in WWI, yet still facing
hardships.
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Opportunities

• During World War II, military discrimination
  against African American soldiers was eliminated.
  As the war progressed, African American soldiers
  were given the opportunity to engage in combat
  within the armed forces and even to become
  officers. African American soldiers proved that
  they were equipped to deal with the
• most demanding military
  
• assignments. The Tuskegee
• Airmen were among those who
• proved their skill and bravery
• in combat.

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Opportunities

• A.Philip Randolph
• Fought to end discrimination in defense-related
  jobs.
• Threatened Roosevelt to lead a massive march on
  Washington to protest discrimination. The threat
  worked.
• Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802, outlawing
  discrimination by defense contractors.
• Paved the way for nearly a million African
  Americans to work for the defense industries
  during the war.

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Hardships

• Segregation in training camps
• ate in separate mess halls
• slept in separate barracks
• In early days of war, marines and army air corps
  didnt accept African Americans
• Navy limited African American duties to cooking,
  cleaning rooms, and shining shoes
• Army accepted black GIs, but excluded them from
  combat
• served in segregated units led by white officers
• worked in construction, supply, or other service
  groups

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Key Terms

• Double V Campaign - African Americans wanted
  wanted all citizens to join the fight for a
  double victory -- a victory for democracy both
  abroad and at home.
• Tuskegee Airmen - the first black combat unit
  established in the air corps showed that
• African Americans
• could handle the most
• demanding assignments.

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• Valeriya- key terms and opportunity slide.
• Joelle- Opportunity slide and pictures.
• Renee- Hardships slide
• Devrina- Title Page