1. African-Americans and WWII

2. Before WWII
% of African-Americans still lived in the old confederate states
Most were extremely poor

3. A. Philip Randolph
1925 – Philip Randolph President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP)
As a labor organizer, he worked for the rights of African-American workers

4. Roy Wilkins, MLK, A Philip Randolph

5. WWII & African-Americans
WWII proved to have huge economic benefits
Jobs in defense factories & armed forces brought almost all Americans out of poverty
…Except African-Americans, who still could not get jobs

6. The Armed Forces The Marines excluded African-Americans entirely
The Navy used them as servants
The Army segregated African-Americans into regiments typically led by white officers

7. The March on Washington
Philip Randolph called for a March on Washington to demand an end to segregation in defense industries and the armed forces

8. March on Washington
“…With faith and confidence, Negroes, by mobilization and coordination of their mass power, can cause PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ABOLISHING DISCRIMINATIONS IN ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, ARMY, NAVY, AIR CORPS AND NATIONAL DEFENSE JOBS.”

9. FDR’s Response
In response, FDR issued Executive Order 8802 – the Fair Employment Act
Banned segregation in the defense industries
Did not desegregate the military
Randolph cancelled the March on Washington as a result

10. Famous All-African American Forces
125,000 African Americans served overseas in WWII
Famous segregated units, such as the Tuskegee Airmen and 761st Tank Battalion

11. New Jobs
Movement – Many African-Americans moved to Northern cities in order to take advantage of new opportunities
Defense jobs – Helped lift many African-Americans out of poverty

12. Racial tensions Some cities - racism and distrust
Race riots in which African-Americans were targeted

13. The War’s Effects WWII’s impact on African-Americans:
Better jobs and wages
More organization
Movement to Northern cities
Still racial tension and segregation in some areas – but overall better economic conditions

14. Post-Script
In 1948 President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 integrating the military and mandating equality
The last all-A.A. unit wasn't disbanded until 1954.