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Returning Soldiers By W. E. B. Dubois Analysis

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Jheaya Conwell History 1152 The Returning Soldiers of World War I The excerpt, Returning Soldiers, was written by W.E.B. Du Bois. Also known as William Edward Burghardt Du Bois born February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Returning Soldiers was written because, he felt like everyone should have known how the African American soldiers were treated after they had just came home from fighting for their country. W.E.B Du Bois identified himself as a “mulatto” in school. He was strongly supported by his white teachers in academics and, went to school with whites. Du Bois later attended Fisk University in 1885, when he moved to Nashville Tennessee. While he was there, he began to study deeply into troubles of American racism and this is where he first experienced Jim Crow laws. The Jim Crow law enforced …show more content…

Over 350,000 African American soldiers were discriminated against, and out in segregated units during WWI. Though a lot of black units served alongside the French and British soldiers, many were supporters way behind the front lines. There was a General named, John J Pershing who basically influenced the discrimination amongst the black and white soldiers. In summary, he told the white soldiers that they weren't allowed to communicate and/or function with the blacks unless it was under military service.To be exact, 171 African American soldiers for valor under fire, were awarded the French Legion of Honor. Although a lot of people disagreed with the discrimination towards the black soldiers and sailors, there was nothing they could do except talk about it. Eventually the problem became bigger and protest began. The uprise of protest were beneficial because, African Americans later received officers’ training. Even though they were not aloud to supervise white troops, by October 1917, 600 African Americans were commissioned as

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Their pay was indicative of that. It was assumed upon enlistment that African American soldiers would receive pay as white soldiers. However, it came to light that while white soldiers received $13 per week, African American soldiers only received $10 per week. In protest of the injustice, the soldiers and officers of the entire regiment refused pay until black soldiers and white soldiers were compensated equally. It was not until the war was almost over that this happened.

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The other aspect that changed the perception was the involvement of different religious groups towards ensuring equality to all groups. Why the blacks considered to be weak to be soldiers The thoughts and the remarks were

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W.E.B Du Bois and His Impact on Black America W.E.B Dubois was a man who believed and fought for a cause that changed and revolutionized how some people see racism today. Before Du bois started his civil rights activism he was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts on February 23, 1868, and in 1884 Du Bois graduated as the valedictorian from his high school class. Soon after he graduated from high school he was accepted into Harvard University in 1888 as a junior and was the first African American to earn a PHD from Harvard University. Shortly after he received a bachelor of arts cum laude in 1890. Later in his life Du Bois began to fight vigorously for lesser status foundations and became an advocate for full and equal rights.

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African-Americans in the army would be mocked, mistreated and had lower ranking jobs like finding the dead corpse. Some of them were even called ‘monkeys’ by their white counterparts (“Glory”). This happened throughout the war, and even Union soldiers would make racist remarks towards the blacks. Garrison Frazier, who was a black minister said that freedmen would want to live separately from the whites after the war because of the prejudice against them (Sherman and Stanton 1865). This shows that racism during the war was an important subject back then that freedmen will try to separate themselves from the whites so they won’t face prejudice and hate.

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Returning soldiers from World War I blame African Americans for the job shortages and economic decline in the U.S. Thus, these white soldiers claimed that to be the reason for the racial violence that took place in the summer of 1919.

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In Soldier from the War Returning, Thomas Childers writes that “a curious silence lingers over what for many was the last great battle of the war.” This final battle was the soldier’s return home. After World War II, veterans came back to the United States and struggled with stigmatized mental illnesses as well as financial and social issues. During the war, many soldiers struggled with mental health issues that persisted after they came home.

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Martha Becker Mrs. Brumley Honors English 9, Hour 4 29 April 2016 The Port Chicago effect All throughout history, African Americans have had a huge impact on American wars and only recently received any recognition. In 1775 when George Washington took command of the Revolutionary forces, he told recruiters to stop signing up African American soldiers to fight in the war even though they had already been fighting for our county since the beginning of the war (Sheinkin 6). The order to stop taking African American soldiers never decreased their desire to serve their country, and fight for the ideals laid out in the constitution. Over the years black men continued to try and serve our country, and the navy lifted restrictions slightly.

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However, racism was evident for black men throughout the army; being segregated and not paid equally caused for their voice to be

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The need for rights during this time continued and the understanding and willingness to organize civil rights for them continued to be a slow and unaffected change for this minority. Some of the changes that were greatly affected during war time were unfair employment, one of the leaders of the black movement at this time was Philip Randolph president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and National Negro Congress fought great lengths for the equal rights at home and overseas for the countries involvement in the

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Many African Americans applied and were denied entrance into the Army Air Corps (later known as the U.S. Air Force). “The War Department 's policy of racial discrimination was based on a 1925 War College

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Compared to the French army, they allowed them to be on frontlines and treated with equality and respect. They were even awarded the French Croix de Guerre. At this time, White Americans considered African Americans to be unfit to fight on the frontlines. In early July, 1917, a

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It was while in Tennessee that Du Bois first experienced overt racial discrimination. Du Bois earned a second bachelor’s degree (1890)

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The Jim Crow laws and segregation allowed African Americans to be treated as second-class citizens. In Document I from The Crisis written by W.E.B Dubois May 1919, Dubois states that many African Americans were also drafted to fight in World War I, but were not welcomed to a great home when they returned.

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In 1941, President Roosevelt signed the Executive Order 8802 which prohibited the discrimination of workers in the defense or Government because of race, creed, color, or national origin. This, however, did not do much to combat America’s race problem and caused animosity between whites and blacks. Many race riots and “hate strikes” happened as a result. Although some black soldiers were

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A blast killing more than 300 sailors, injuring off-duty men, shook Port Chicago, California. Men refused to go back to work until biased and hazardous conditions at the docks were addressed. Fifty were charged with mutiny and were facing years of jail time. This captivating story of the prejudice that tackled African American men in America's armed forces during World War II; a look at those who gave their lives in the service of a country where they lacked the most basic human rights. Therefore, bringing about an era of change.

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