Essay On African Americans In The Military

In the military during World War I, Blacks and Whites were treated very differently. Unlike whites, blacks weren’t always allowed to join the U.S military and when they did, whites decided to retaliate. Black’s also had the harder and more difficult roles and the lower salaries compared to whites in the military. In addition, the blacks had to endure inadequate services while the whites had services that met their needs.

The U.S, government let the African Americans join the military which sparked anger in whites. African american men in acceptable condition were first able to serve for the Military of U.S.A on January 1st 1863. African americans eagerly volunteered for the U.S military in WWI. Over 350 000 African american soldiers have served with the U.S military during the end of the war in November of 1918. During a four day protest in East St. Louis, whites and blacks clashed causing the lives of 125 African americans. White’s and black’s were fighting but, however

Most blacks of the U.S military were limited to labor battalions only a handful got to serve in the front line as troops. White men at arms got paid $3 more.In addition, they got a clothing allowance but, the U.S military paid the African American men at arms $3 less and no clothing allowance. In 1864 there was a bill passed which had stated equal pay for black and white men of the U.S military. Since the African americans work in service units in WWI was considered useless the commanders promised extra benefits for hard work. The soldiers worked 24 hours unloading ships nonstop with the commanders motivation. The blacks would, transport men and materials to and from bases and ports. Later in the war they were responsible for digging holes, removing undetonated bombs and clearing disabled equipment. African Americans had to do the dirty work and were paid by race, in addition, they had to endure unfair