African American Involvement In The Military

The involvement of an African American has been difficult in the military but it would progress as the centuries past. Though racism, discrimination and segregation would still exist, both the white and black would come together fighting for America. In the 19th century, less the 30,000 troops were in the army after the civil war and black troops were trying to be removed from it. “Congressional democrats tried to eliminate black soldiers from this small force, but Radical Republicans, led by Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson, kept the military open to black men” (pg. 322). African Americans were paid less to serve, giving the worst horses to ride and the army, in these times to African Americans, were boring and lonely in the west.
In Addition,

White leaders were less enthusiastic about the African American participation in the war and wondered their wisdom. When war was declared on Germany in 1917, most African Americans supported the war effort. “As in previous conflicts, black people sought to demonstrate their loyalty and devotion to the country through military service” (pg. 356). They wanted to serve but discrimination, abuse and black troops being neglected from white troops still was an issue. The Military authorities didn’t expect to use black troops in combat, but rather “employ black troops in labor battalions, as stevedores, in road construction, and as cooks and bakers” (pg.

Still the African American faced harsh hostility and discrimination but their progression of acceptance began to be obtained. “The Nazis also despised black people and considered them inferior or subhuman beings” (pg. 448). African Americans were willing to fight in war along with white troops but no matter how skilled they were, white did not accept and segregated them in units and assign them to service duties.
Black Americans began to protest the discrimination going on in the military that eventually led to the beginning of military desegregation. Black officers, the press, and civil rights leaders would voice their messages about African American troops and the War Department produced a propaganda film. This film, The Negro Soldier, “emphasized the contributions black soldiers had made in the nation’s wars since the American Revolution and was designed to appeal to both black and white audiences” (pg.