Black Men during World War II

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that existing as a black man in Alabama during World War II, or in fact existing as a black man anywhere in the United States, was to be a man viewed as having little intellectual capacity. The paper then goes on to describe the involvement of black men in the WWII military, noting that, while the black man appeared to make great progress during World War II, these same men were to understand quickly that in reality, nothing had changed. However, for these black men, returning home from the war, it no longer seemed right or natural to 'stay in their place' because they had gained a new and larger perspective of their place. The author concludes that, while the Civil Rights movement did not arise immediately from this WWII experience, it did influence the future.

Table of Contents:
Objective
Terms and Definitions
Introduction
World War II
The Tuskegee Airmen
The Alabama Experience
Jim Crow Laws
Returning from the War
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"As already stated it was believed that the black man did not have the intellectual capacity to do things the white man could do and specifically, during the Second World War, it was not believed that the black man could pilot a plane. The struggle of African Americans to gain entry to the Army Air Corps had been ongoing since the use of planes was introduced into warfare during the First World War. In April of 1939, Public Law 18 which called for an expansion of the Air Corps was passed with part of the law containing an authorization to create black training programs in colleges."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Mobile Alabama (2007) The War. PBS. 7 Sept 2007. Online available at: http://www.pbs.org/thewar/the_witnesses_towns_mobile.htm
• Martin, Sandy (2001)African American Baptists and World War II Baptist History and Heritage 22 June 2001. Online available at: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-94160979.html
• The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II (nd) Online available at: http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/US_History/USH0223.pdf
• Krause, Lisa (2001) Black Soldiers in WWII: Fighting Enemies at Home and Abroad. National Geographic News. Online available at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0215_tuskegee.html#related
• Krause, Lisa (2001) Charles Houston: The Man who Killed Jim Crow. National Geographic News 7 Feb 2001. Online available at: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0206_charleshouston.html

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