Were African Americans unenthusiastic or even unsupportive of US participation in World War 2?

Answer 1

I don't have and answer to your question, but I can say my dad, served in the service during the second world war, and he was black.

AnswerWhy do you believe African Americans were unethusiastic and unsupportive? I'm not so sure they were as many volunteered for service. AnswerMy dad fought in the Korean War only to return without receiving one medal while white soldiers received medals around him, while our great nation denied him work when he returned while white soldiers got jobs when they returned, while he was denied benefits afforded white soldiers, while he was denied rights that our constitution guaranteed all Americans.... Might this be a good reason to be unethusiastic or unsupportive....even though he was not anti-American or anti-war.... or someone who has his dad & others to keep him from going to war. Guess that's what makes a great American leader ...right ! Would not white Americans cry foul if treated the same way ? Would not white American cry injustice if they were treated like black soldiers were treated before & after the war... AnswerThey were neither unenthusiastic nor unsupportive. There was a significant amount of opinion within the black community that the war would, somehow, produce conditions that would permit social changes and greater racial equality. I guess they were right since the Civil Rights Movement began not long after the war. AnswerPrior to the start of WWll, service by African-Americans in the Army, Navy, Marines and Army Air Corp was stained by racist evaluations of ther service in WWl but still looked at as one of the only professional careers available to blacks. Unfortunately,quotas and limits were placed on the number of blacks allowed to serve. Since blacks made up only 10% of the general population the War Department only allowed a proportionate amount to serve in selected units.

Also, since racial segregration was the order of the time, a black serving in the Army could only be assigned to one of a few active duty units such as the famed 9th and 10th cavalaries and only if a slot opened up due to retirement or death. Blacks were only allowed to serve as mess sterwards, cooks and service personnel in the Navy. They were not allowed to serve in the Army Air Corp or Marines until after the NAACP, Eleanor Roosevelt, and the black press pressured FDR to pass a fair enlistment act assuring that all the armed services and their jobs within them were made available to blacks.

Once opened,seregation of blacks and whites units remained in effect. The issue of black officers giving orders to white soldiers still was unacceptable to most whites. The 92nd Infantry, 93nd infantry and 24th Infantry were the only all black units available to assign blacks. Because of the overwhelming numbers due to volunteers and draftees the Army mandated that units be organized on a battalion or regiment level only so that they can be shifted around to larger units. After two years of training in segregated units with some white officers operating under JIM CROW laws between 1942-1944 most black combat units were unfairly redesignated as service units (Laundry, trash, manual labor, etc..). Only a few black combat units were allowed to go over seas. Units as the 99th fighter Sq, 332th Tuskegee Airmen,761st tank battalion and 92nd Infantry serve with honor in Europe. The 93rd Infantry served in the Pacific and the 555th (Triple Nickles, first Black Airborne troops)serve on the West Coast fighting fires and Japanese Balloon bombs.

Many blacks participated in the Invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944 and Ferried food, gas and ammo to combat troops as the RED BALL EXPRESS. Blacks participated in the Battle of the Ardennes and The crossing of the Rhine River.

At home African-Americans sponsored the double "V" for victory at overseas and at home. Imagine,fighting for your country in a war all over the world to free frenchmen, Italians, Pols, Chinese and others but at home you and your family suffered under racism, segregation and lychings.