Analysis Of Race And Recruitment Of Visible Minorities In World War I

Secondary Sources Walker’s article Race and Recruitment in World War I: Enlistment of Visible Minorities in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, discusses racism specifically towards the visible minorities during World War 1 in Canada. The article focuses on the racism experience by the Indians, blacks, and Japanese men, who although volunteered to give their time to serve in the war could not due to stereotypes that were upon them. In the introduction of this article, there is no doubt that racism was evident during this time, yet Walker questions, if World War 1 in Canada was a “white man’s war” meaning only whites are able and capable of fighting for this nation. Although World War 1 was meant to make the world a safer place for everyone,

Walker discussion of the division of racial battalions in World War 1, also creates the concept of just how devalued the blacks, Japanese and Indians were during this time and how being white meant power and bravery during the war. These examples that Walker gives help build on the previous assumptions that World War 1 did not create racism, but enforced racism that was already happening within the Canadian

Although it is not clearly specified the background or publication that the article has come from, I would say the audience that the writer had in mind for the publication was for other scholars and students to give a better understanding not on World War 1 in itself, rather the impact it had on the visible minority groups of Canada. Having this specific audience in mind, Walker reflects on a time period where racism and white supremacy was alive and just how much it impacted humans. It reflects a time where we devalued humans because of stereotypes that made such accusations on an individual capability to fight in a war. Although years have passed since World War 1, the ongoing of racism is still relevant and ongoing within our society