How WWI Changed America: African Americans in WWI

Summary

During World War I, African Americans faced both new opportunities and harsh realities, as they navigated a society still entrenched in white supremacy and segregation. The war catalyzed The Great Migration, where nearly one million African Americans left the rural South for industrial jobs in the North. Though black soldiers contributed heroically, as seen in the Harlem Hellfighters, their service was met with racial hostility upon returning home. The war ignited a resolve among African Americans to continue fighting for equality, laying the groundwork for the civil rights movement that would take shape in the following decades.

Takeaways

• 😀 African-Americans during WWI faced severe racial discrimination and were largely excluded from equal rights, living under Jim Crow laws in the South.
• 😀 The war created new opportunities for African-Americans, especially in the North, in industries like shipbuilding and metalworking, contributing to the Great Migration of nearly one million African-Americans by 1919.
• 😀 African-Americans were actively involved in supporting the war effort through activities like buying bonds, conserving food, and participating in women's organizations, despite many being excluded from direct roles in military service abroad.
• 😀 Despite limited roles, African-American women contributed significantly, with a few being allowed to serve in overseas roles like working for the YMCAs.
• 😀 African-American men were motivated to serve in WWI to prove their loyalty and patriotism in hopes of being accepted as full citizens.
• 😀 The experience of African-American soldiers varied widely, with many assigned to labor-intensive roles, such as stevedores, where they faced extreme danger and lacked adequate training or weaponry.
• 😀 One of the most hazardous tasks for African-American soldiers was the Graves Registration Service, where they were tasked with disinterring bodies of fallen soldiers.
• 😀 The 92nd Infantry Division, though praised for its bravery and awarded numerous Distinguished Service Crosses, faced racist criticism from white Southern officers, who disparaged the division.
• 😀 The Harlem Hellfighters (369th Regiment) fought under French command, serving the longest time at the front and gaining renown for their bravery, compiling the best record of any comparable American unit.
• 😀 Despite their heroism, African-American soldiers like Henry Johnson were not recognized by the U.S. government at the time. Johnson received the French Croix de Guerre but did not receive an American honor until decades later.
• 😀 African-American soldiers returned from the war expecting better treatment, only to face increased hostility and violence, particularly during the Red Summer of 1919, a series of racial riots across the country, leading to a growing demand for civil rights and equality.

Q & A

What was the social and political climate for African-Americans when the U.S. entered World War I?

When the U.S. entered World War I, African-Americans were still living under the oppressive Jim Crow system in the South, facing segregation, sharecropping, and disenfranchisement, decades after the end of slavery.

How did World War I create new opportunities for African-Americans?

The war created opportunities for African-Americans to move to the North and work in war industries like metalworking, shipbuilding, and other essential sectors, especially during the Great Migration, which saw nearly a million African-Americans leave the rural South.

What role did women, particularly African-American women, play in the war effort?

African-American women contributed to the war effort by supporting various organizations, though they faced racial barriers. They wanted to serve as nurses or work in YMCAs abroad, but only a few were permitted to do so.

What were African-American soldiers’ motivations for serving in World War I?

African-American soldiers were motivated by the belief that demonstrating their loyalty and patriotism would help them earn acceptance as full citizens and secure better civil rights.

How were African-American soldiers treated during the war?

African-American soldiers faced significant racism and discrimination. Many were assigned to labor-intensive roles like construction work or the dangerous task of disinterring bodies, with little training or protection. However, some combat units like the 92nd Infantry Division and the Harlem Hellfighters proved their courage despite these obstacles.

What was the significance of the 92nd Infantry Division’s experience during World War I?

The 92nd Infantry Division, despite facing criticism from white Southern officers, distinguished itself by earning numerous Distinguished Service Crosses for valor, highlighting the African-American soldiers' capability and heroism.

How did the Harlem Hellfighters contribute to the war effort?

The Harlem Hellfighters (369th Regiment) served for 191 days, the longest time at the front of any American unit. They earned a reputation for bravery and never lost a prisoner or a foot of ground, gaining high honors from the French military.

Why was Henry Johnson’s heroism significant, and what recognition did he receive?

Henry Johnson's bravery in defending his outpost from a German attack made him one of the first African-American heroes of World War I. He received the French Croix de Guerre but was denied recognition by the U.S. government. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2015.

What did African-American soldiers face when they returned home from World War I?

When African-American soldiers returned home, they were often met with resentment and hostility from white Americans, especially during the 1919 Red Summer, when racial riots and violence broke out. Despite their service, they were seen as a threat to the racial status quo.

How did World War I influence the Civil Rights Movement?

The experiences of African-American soldiers in World War I, coupled with the racial violence they faced upon returning home, acted as a catalyst for the civil rights movement. Leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois advocated for continued activism, leading to a stronger push for racial equality in the following decades.