Existing comment:
The War At Home:
As the war overseas raged, another older struggle continued in America: The struggle against prejudice and racism. This struggle took on new meaning as African-Americans were being called on once again to fight and die for a democracy in which they were not afforded the rights of full citizenship. As with all of America's wars, Blacks were ready to serve. The reasons many African-Americans rushed to serve must have been varied and complex. Many thought that serving was an obligation while others saw serving as a way to demostrate [sic] their worthiness as citizens. A letter from reader James E. Thompson, who expressed the frustration of many Black Americans about race relations, sparked The Pittsburgh Courier, a leading black newspaper, to start the "Double V Campaign," which called for victory over facism [sic] abroad and victory over racism at home. The Double V Campaign's mobilization of the black community was a precursor of things to come.
The necessities of war production meant increased opportunities for women and minorities as they found jobs in war plants. Many blacks moved to urban centers outside of the American South to take advantage of these increased opportunities. This was not always welcomed by the majority population. During the war, several race riots occurred in Detroit, Los Angeles, Chicago and Harlem.
Military service offered no refuge from segregation and discrimination. Black servicemen and women, particularly those serving in the South, suffered the same indignities.
Of the Black American aviators to serve during WWII, approximately one half served overseas. |