Us History 1301-1877

While millions of white American men and women were fighting in World War II, African Americans were excluded at first and only given the lowest-wage, lowest-skill jobs. Many African Americans worked in factories and industry jobs, since most white American men were drafted to fight in the war. While the world was at war, circumstances at home were not much better; racism was still a major issue with no resolve. In our textbook, David Emory Shi says, “African Americans noted the irony of the United States fighting against racism abroad while tolerating it at home” (Shi 914). During this time, many riots and racial incidents were occurring in America; despite this, African Americans “rushed to enlist after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor” (Shi 914).

A. Philip Randolph led a march to Washington, D.C. to demand “an end to racial discrimination in defense industries” (Shi 914). Even though African Americans still faced racial discrimination at home, many wanted to enlist and fight in World War II. White Americans did not like the idea of this, but they needed the manpower. To compromise, African Americans were allowed to join the military, but were not allowed in combat and had to be segregated. A famous group of servicemen, the Tuskegee Airmen, are the reason that Americans desegregated “the armed forces after the war” (Shi 914).