Discussion Topic
Women and African Americans' Contributions to WWI Effort
Summary:
During World War I, African Americans and women significantly contributed to the U.S. war effort. African Americans served in segregated units like the 92nd and 93rd Divisions, with many fighting bravely in France, while others worked in support roles. Women, including African American women, took on nursing, clerical, and industrial jobs, supporting troops through organizations like the YWCA. These efforts marked the beginning of societal shifts, such as the Great Migration, despite facing discrimination and job loss post-war.
How did women and African Americans contribute to the US war effort during WWI?
African Americans formed two major all black units, the 92nd and the 93rd. The 92nd was formed entirely of black draftees and was kept out of actual combat areas and were assigned to labor battalions. The 93rd was sent to France and fought in battles at Argonne, Chateau Thierry, St. Mihiel, Champagne, Vosges, and Metz. The 93rd was joined in battle by the all black 396th infantry . The war saw six major divisions of African-Americans formed and serving in war time. Women served mostly in roles of nurses, telephone operators, providing food and other supplies to the military, entertaining the troops and working as journalists.
African American women, who were officially not permitted to participate in many areas of the World War I war effort, made themselves useful in many areas. One area, in which Black Women worked and served, was at the YWCA, or the Young Women’s...
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Christian Association. Phyllis Wheatley worked tirelessly along with Anthony Bowen of the YMCA to help assure dwelling for African American soldiers. The women read mail to the soldiers, wrote letters home for the illiterate soldiers and much more. The National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses also served during the war. They served by making bandages, taking over jobs that men held so they could be soldiers, worked in hospitals, and served in various ways at troop centers.
During World War I, women started working in jobs that had previously not been open to them. This did not happen nearly as much as it happened in World War II, but it did start here. About one million women worked in war industries. However, almost all lost those jobs after the war.
African Americans were, for the most part, not allowed to serve in combat units in the US Army. They were mostly kept in menial occupations in the military. At home, they were recruited as a new source of labor to replace white men. This started the Great Migration of blacks from rural Southern areas to Northern cities.
What two contributions did African-Americans make to the war effort?
You do not mention a specific war, so I will address the Civil War. African Americans played key roles in the Civil War. Though they faced racism and were led by white officers, black soldiers were originally used for garrison duty or to create roads for the white armies. With the urging of Frederick Douglass, black soldiers joined the Union army in active duty roles. Black soldiers were essential in taking Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Black soldiers also served bravely in Grant's Wilderness campaign in 1864. All of this is even more remarkable given that a black soldier was likely to be executed or sold into slavery if captured on the field of battle.
While many whites in the North doubted the abilities of African American soldiers, the white officers who served with them often had nothing but good things to say about their fighting abilities. Even though African Americans would continue facing discrimination throughout the country after the war, many stayed in the military and fought in the American Indian Wars in the West.
Since this question doesn’t mention a specific war, I will use World War II as an example.
There were ways that African-Americans helped the United States in World War II. Some African-Americans served in the military. African-American units were segregated during World War II. However, these soldiers fought bravely. Some were recognized for their bravery and others made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting. African-American men and women both served during World War II.
African-Americans also contributed to the war effort at home. They filled some of the jobs that were available in factories that produced materials for the war. Some African-Americans relocated to do this. They supported the government initiatives to conserve food. They bought liberty bonds. They also emphasized that in their minds this war was being fought to fight racism at home and abroad. While African-Americans were fighting for freedom in other parts of the world, they still faced segregation and discrimination at home. The Double V Campaign addressed this issue.
African-Americans made many contributions during World War II.
What was the role of African-Americans during WWI?
Approximately 40,000 African-Americans served in combat roles during WWI, fighting mainly with the French army. The 92nd and 93rd Divisions fought bravely in the final Allied offensive of the war. Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts were the first Americans to receive the Croix de Guerre. One regiment from the 93rd division was also the first American unit to reach the Rhine River in Germany following the Armistice.
Most African-Americans were treated poorly during the war. They were often put in support units guarding supply depots or as stevedores unloading dangerous explosives from supply ships. The Army segregated units by race at this time, and African-Americans were banned from higher leadership roles. The French Army and population typically treated the African-Americans better than their American counterparts, and many African-Americans returned to the U.S. after the war with a desire of pushing for greater equality, especially since this was a war to "save democracy."