Civil Rights Around World War II

CIVIL RIGHTS AROUND WORLD WAR II

By Emily B., Samantha K., Aprol T., and Ellie E.

Mr. SchwarzeHOTA

Civil Rights Pre-WWII

Before the war, the minority groups of America experienced severe segregation.

Racism ran rampant, riots against separate races occurred frequently. Just look at the race riots in Tulsa Oklahoma, a white mob rampaged down the streets and set fire to African-American owned property and they got away with it.

June 1st, 1921

Civil Rights during WWII

During the war, race didn’t matter in enlistment but it did matter in the platoon.

African Americans enlisted in the war were put into separate platoons headed by a white commander.

All minorities were kept separate

Platoon of African American recruits.

Many African Americans migrated to Ohio because of the job opening.

African Americans were still treated badly and were still not given semiskilled or skilled jobs.

In 1950 Ohio’s African American population was 6.5%. By the end of the war, It was 8%

During WWII, the press stereotyped Mexican Americans as dangerous ruffians. In Los Angeles, servicemen would attack Mexican American youths without interruption from the police. This was largely brought to an end by senior military officers declaring Los Angeles of-limits to service men on June 9, 1943.

Civil rights After WWII

Minority soldiers returned to a country that still didn’t grant them full rights but a movement for full rights to all was set in motion,

The war broke up a lot of the prejudice surrounding many.

Quote from Birdie Farr

“You were there to do a job. And if you can do it, you’re going to do it no matter what color you are. You work next to the next guy. Your life depended on hi, regardless of color”