World War Two

The Four Freedoms

Franklin Roosevelt sold World War II as a war on behalf of democracy. It was to be a war to guarantee the “Four Freedoms.”

Many African Americans supported the concept, if the freedoms applied within the U.S., too.

Military: Same Old Story

Once again, African-Americans had to “fight for the right to fight. Military was segregated. Discrimination common within the military. Marines barred African-Americans at first. Navy enlisted blacks in support positions. Army enlisted blacks, but only in support & logistical positions. Civilian violence toward black servicemen.“We were really just stevedores & servants,” recalled one African-American soldier.

Civilian Jobs

Job discrimination common in defense jobs.“Whites-only” hiring policies.

Housing segregation in cities. White hate strikes & violence

against black co-workers.

“Double Vee” Campaign

Spearheaded by the NAACP, BSCP & the Pittsburgh Courier, called for victory against fascism abroad & at home.

Called on Roosevelt to take action against: Segregation within the military Discrimination by defense contractors 100,000-man MOWM, planned for Nov. 1941. Executive Order 8802 issued prior to the march, creating FEPC

Blacks in Military Service

African-American community was better organized during WWII than WWI. 500,000 African-Americans serve in the war. The draft was conducted more fairly. Serve in segregated units & train in segregated camps Blacks eventually accepted into general service in Navy & Marines (1942). Navy commissions black officers in 1944. Army opened officer training schools for blacks. Army Air Corps creates a black flight school

Tuskegee Airmen

USS Mason

A black-run ship . . . except for the commander!

Black Protest

Double Vee Campaign Zoot Suit Riots Nation of Islam

Black Civil Rights in the 1940s

A. Smith v. Allwright (1944)B. C.O.R.E. founded (1944)C. S.C. Progressive Democratic Party

(1944)D. Shelley v. Kraemer (1948)E. Executive Order 9981F. U.N.

Declaration of Universal Human Rights