The Struggle for Justice at Home

Minority Contributions (African-Americans)- Tuskegee Airmen- pilots who flew during WWII (Asian Americans) 442nd Regional Combat Unit fought in the War in Asia against Japan) (Latinos)- fought in (Native Americans)- Codetalkers- fought in the war

African-Americans Struggle to end discrimination existed for decades South- Jim Crow laws strictly enforced North- fewer segregation laws but AA faced job, housing & education discrimination Riots resulted b/c of resentment felt by white workers Soldiers & segregation- military continued to practice segregation Polls showed that the government and most white’s felt that African Americans were satisfied with existing conditions

African Americans (cont’d) CORE, Congress of Racial Equality in Chicago (1942) A. Philip Randolph- fought for acceptance of AA’s in unions. Helped force government to order defense factories to open jobs and training programs to all Americans

Mexican Americans Also faced discrimination, although new job opportunities By 1944- 17,000 jobs in LA shipyards filled by Mexicans Bracero Program: an agricultural worker shortage forced the US to make an agreement with Mexico Lived in barrios, crowed conditions & discrimination lead to rising tensions within the community Zoot Suit Riots- Sailors on leave would attack these young men. Led to publicized riots and often the victim was blamed.

Native Americans 25,000 joined the service Many other migrated for work New experiences caused an adaptation to take place Many never returned to the reservation, cut off from their roots

Japanese Americans Suffered the worst 1941- 127,000 lived in the US Most lived in the West Coast where they faced discrimination 2/3 of the Japanese were 1st generation Americans (Nisei- parents had emigrated from Japan) Japanese Relocation: Internment Camps (confinement during wartime) At first German & Italian Americans were included but it did not last Executive Order 9066 (1942) 110,000 people both citizens & non-citizens, ordered to move away form the coast

Japanese Americans (cont’d) They were relocated so quickly They had no idea where they were going Camps were located in desolated areas, with wooden barracks covered with tarpaper. Inside the barracks families had a room equipped with only cots, blankets and a light bulb. People had to share a toilet, bathing & dining facilities. Barbed wire & armed guards surrounded the camps.

Japanese Americans (cont’d) Legal challenges were made, 4 cases went before the SC but they ruled that wartime relocation was constitutional Not allowed to return home until 1945 Most families lost everything 1988- Congress passed a law compensating the families with a $20,000 payment. 40 years later. Despite the injustice, more than 17,000 Japanese served in the armed forces, 1,200 of them did so from relocation centers. 442nd Regiment Combat Team. They fought in France & Germany and won more medals for bravery than any other unit in US History.