Review Of Hortense Johnson Describes Black Women During World War II

Dating back to World War II the United States was immensely preoccupied with the war front. Their continuous worry about having enough ammunition put many people to work. Around the 1940s, many individuals were asked to work jobs they usually would not have been offered. There was a simple phase of false hope for the struggling families. Readers have had a chance to see the reality behind the era of World War II through the documents left behind in Chapter 13: Gender, Race, and Sexuality During World War II of Sharon Block’s book Major Problems in American History Volume II: Since 1865 and also Chapter 8: Origins of the Civil Rights Movement of Thomas Holt’s book Major Problems in African American History. With continuous struggles of racism

In the document “Hortense Johnson Describes Black Women and the War Effort, 1943” the reader sees what type of work was asked of her and what difficulties she had to go through daily to accomplish it all. Hortense Johnson was a young lady working as an inspector in a war plant amongst five others. She nearly got into every little detail of her job and how she spent her day from the moment she woke up to go to work until she left her work to go home. During this period of time, many women and young ladies were asked to help with the war effort by working jobs that usually men would acquire. But due to the instant and constant need of more soldiers on the battlefield, the labor force was lacking individuals to take place of soldiers. Miss. Johnson proceeds to explain to the readers that even though it is a tough time, “we must prove it to White American as well—that our country can’t get along without the labor and sacrifice of her brown daughters” (Block, 386). Hortense is proud to help her fellow Americans in their time of need through her patriotism to America and in efforts to make herself feel like she is equal to the White Americans. Throughout all the effort at her work place and making sure each of the boxes are thoroughly inspected and ready for departure and her troubling route to work and back home she did it with a smile. She prompts, “Did I say my job isn’t exciting or complicated?

In the document “James Farmer Recounts CORE’s Early Direct Action Strategy, 1942, ” readers got to witness what difficulties African Americans had to go through to receive service around town without being belittled. For an example, “The manager, increasingly upset, announced that if the Negros did not want to eat in the basement, she would seat them at the two rear booths where they would be hidden from view” (Holt, 262). It was difficult for them to find locations where Whites would offer them the same respect that they received. This document does the honors to show the world how African Americans in the WWII era were being discriminated. There was a little too no equality present towards Blacks. Yes they were still given service in restaurants but out of sight and in the dark. Though there was much effort put towards the act, James Farmer was more disappointed in America and how people of color were being treated. It did not stop him and his fellow African Americans from standing up for themselves. There was no evidence of biasness in the article due to James expressing his efforts and proud moments that were put towards the civil rights of African Americans. He declared, “No militant Negro today would dream of trying to persuade a manager to serve him on the groups that Negros patronage would not