African-American History During World War I
African-American history experienced a major period during World War I. Although the war began as a European conflict, by the time it was over, significant transformational impacts were visible. The conflict had a significant impact on African Americans' social, political, and economic futures1. Understanding the events that occurred during World War I regarding African Americans helps in having a better understanding of the battle for black freedom. The effects were felt on all the black people who were on the fire front fighting for their rights as American citizens. Most Americans believed that America's involvement in the conflict, which began in 1914, was not crucial. Statements were made by American leaders showing that they had no intention of joining the war, until after two years of war. This is because Americans viewed the bloodshed that occurred overseas as something that would not have any effect on their day-to-day lives. However, the war had a great effect on African Americans, especially the Southerners. The war took place coincidentally with the Great Migration.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration took place between 1914 and 1920, whereby "around 6 million African-Americans moved out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West," Alfredteen, 1991. This led to a transformation of the culture and political structure of the cities that they inhabited, for instance, New York, Detroit, and Chicago2. A court ruling that was made by the Supreme Court made it clear that black people were to be segregated and were therefore supposed to use inferior facilities. Those who opposed the rights of the black claimed that they were not entitled to equal protection under the law. Vigilant mob violence was seen as a legitimate practice among the black people.
Opportunities in the North
The African American who had migrated to the north derived more hope from the wartime opportunities; there was industrial growth in America, which brought about employment opportunities for the black people. The European conflict reduced European immigration, making the industries to absorb the African American as employees. There was a need for the southerners to change their lifestyle from one that relied on agricultural produce, and adopt white color jobs, which improved their living standards. However, during this season the black were doing domestic jobs while the men made entries into the manufacturing firm, automobile industries, and packing houses. The Great Migration was a movement that was driven by black people in their search for better living standards. However, white southerners claimed that white labor agents spearheaded the movement of the black southerners. The Chicago Defender in the south encouraged the black southerners to take advantage of the prevailing opportunities and adopt a better life2. The migrants wrote letters to those who were in the south giving them details of how their lives had been positively transformed by the migration, hence encouraging them to join the migrants. According to Alfedteen, 1991,"It was through word of mouth that the African American distributed information on the best sites to relocate into. Most people left to look for a job, and after securing one and finding living arrangements, they would send for the other members of their family".
Challenges and Discrimination
During this transition cycle, the southern immigrants had to endure residential segregation, job discrimination, and hostilities from most of the citizens. Discrimination did not only come from the white, but also from older African American residents. The discrimination was because the place was getting overcrowded and their residents were stigmatized as ghettos2. However, life in the north was more exciting than in the south. The immigrants were infused into a new life, new art, new music, and new literature. The Great Migration was a significant experience to the current political, cultural, and social growth of the modern African Americans.
The War, Democracy, and Justice
By early 1917, president Woodrow's administration recognized the approach of the clouds of war in American shores. The president had previously claimed that America would not be involved in the war since it had nothing to gain from European conflicts. However, after his re-election in 1916, America started became affected directly by the war. For instance, in early 1917, Germany engaged in unrestricted war and sank some vessels that carried American passengers in the Atlantic Ocean3. A telegram by Germany which was supposed to lure Mexico into the war on the side of the Central Powers was delivered. The telegram was known as the Zimmerman Telegram, provoked pro-war sentiments. On April 2, 1917, Woodrow made a declaration of war in Congress. He claimed that America had the responsibility of making the world a safe place to exist, and there was a need for America to engage in war against Germany. Woodrow, therefore, saw this as an opportunity to promote democracy at a global level3.
African Americans and American Democracy
Most African Americans saw this as an opportunity for them to get engaged in promoting true democracy. They saw it as an insincere act for America to fight for democracy in other countries while they remained second-class citizens. They, therefore, advocated for the need to first promote democracy at home before doing so in other countries. The African Americans used Woodrow's words to press for justice and democracy to take place. There was a need for America to have true democracy before it could engage in assisting others. The war was, therefore, a test of America's commitment to real democracy, regardless of race2. It was during this time that the government mobilized all citizens for war, expecting the African Americans to also do their part. A draft was instituted by the military in their attempt to create an army that was capable of winning the war. The government, therefore, supposed 100% involvement of the Americans in the war.
African Americans in the War
Some African Americans were for the opinion of joining the war, while a large number of them were against it, claiming that it was a hypocritical act by the government. However, after some time, most African Americans viewed the war as an opportunity to display their patriotism and equal citizens in the country. Black politicians believed that if the black people sacrificed for the sake of the war, the government would have to reward them with equal civil rights. There was a need to remain loyal to the flag. More than one million African Americans were ready to join the war, with 370,000 black men being inducted into the army3.
Women's Contributions
Other than the contribution that the country received from the African American men, the black women contributed in significant ways which formed the basis of African American patriotism. The National Association of Colored Women (NACW) provided great motivation and support for black troops. Women were also involved in groups such as Red Cross and YWCA4. The war spurred the black women who worked outside their homes towards advocating for equal working conditions and pay. Associations were formed in support of this, which was the beginning of the modern equity of civil rights5.
Political Leaders
The war and the pressures that it brought about also tested the patriotism of African American politicians. The government worked closely with them as a way of rallying the support of the black people. This yielded significant results in the reduction of discrimination and segregation of both black civilians and troops. According to Chad Williams, "Black people contested the boundaries of American democracy, demanded their rights as American citizens, and asserted their humanity in subtle and dramatic ways."6
After the War
When the war came to an end in 1918, it was the hope of the African Americans that their efforts of displaying patriotism would yield positive results on race relations. On February 17th, 1919, the 369th Infantry Regiment walked up Fifth Avenue in the spirit of advocating for the civil rights of the black people. This was the beginning of the literal fight that the black people had to undergo after the war, in their quest for equal treatment. The 1919 summers were characterized as bloody summers, due to the occurrences that took place, causing labor unrest. There were race riots in several cities, with the most affected ones being Chicago and Washington, D. C. The reaction of the black people during the postwar resurgence showed how optimistic they had been when displaying their patriotism during the war, with positive expectations in mind7.
Impact of the War
The war shaped most African Americans, deepening their commitment to combat white racial violence. Racial conditions did not improve significantly after World War I. However, it led to significant improvements in the African Americans' living standards, changing their orientation from agricultural activities to the adoption of white-collar jobs. It gave the black people a chance to prove their patriotism, giving them a basis to hold the government accountable for the divided democracy. The involvement of the black troops in the military brought about opportunities for the black people. The fight for equal treatment of the black people remains to be both personal and political, and there is a need for the nation to live up to its potential.
Bibliography
Béla K. Király, Gunther Erich Rothenberg. War and Society in East Central Europe: Effects of World War 1: War Communism in Hungary. Arizona: Brooklyn College Press, 1984.
Cott, Nancy F. History of Women in the United States: Women and War. London: K.G Saur, 1993.
Grayzel, Susan R. Women and the First World War. New York: Routledge, 2013.
Harrison, Alferdteen. Black Exodus: The Great Migration from the American South. Oxford: University Press of Mississipi, 1991.
Meyer, G.J. The World Remade: America in World War I. New York: Random House Publishing Group, 2017.
Williams, Chad. "African Americans and World War I." Africana Age .
Zeinert, Karen. Those Extraordinary Women of World War I. Connectisut: Millbrook Press, 2001.
Zieger, Robert H. America's Great War: World War I and the American Experience. New York : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc, 2000.
