World War II impacted African-Americans. African-Americans fought in the military. However, they served in units that were segregated. African-Americans also contributed to the war effort at home. They helped fill the jobs in the industries that were producing war materials. Their labor was needed to produce supplies for our army.
African-Americans had to face discrimination during the war. They often found it difficult to get hired in the federal defense industries. A. Philip Randolph threatened a march on Washington, D.C. to protest this unequal treatment. President Roosevelt, fearing that any dissent would be viewed by the Axis Powers as a sign that the American people didn’t fully support our war effort, issued an executive order ending discrimination in the hiring of workers in the federal defense plants. As a result, African-Americans worked in these plants.
African-Americans hoped that their involvement and their sacrifice that they made during World War II would lead to more rights and better treatment after the war ended. Eventually, our armed forces became integrated. This was done while President Truman was in office. He also ended discrimination in the hiring of federal workers. President Truman wanted to end the practice of using poll taxes. He also wanted to make lynching a federal crime. However, these ideas were blocked by conservatives in Congress. Additionally, the segregation that existed in our country, especially in the South, didn’t end as a result of the actions and sacrifices of African-Americans during the war. It wasn't until the 1950s and the 1960s that significant improvements occurred.
African-Americans were impacted by our involvement in World War II.
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