During World War II, Black Americans were called to join a global fight against bigotry and injustice—even as they were forced to face discrimination at home and abroad. For more on the experiences of Jewish refugees and Displaced Persons, see the Experiencing History collections, Jewish Refugees and the Holocaust , Jewish Displaced Persons in Postwar Europe , and Displaced Persons and Postwar America.
It was not until 1993 that the first Medal of Honor was awarded to an African American World War II veteran. About 4,000 African American women joined the Army’s Women’s Army Corps.
During the Second World War, about 1.5 million American servicemen and women visited British shores. Around 150,000 of the US troops who came to Britain were black.
As the people of the United States watched World War I ignite across Europe, African American citizens saw an opportunity to win the respect of their white neighbors.
In conclusion, African Americans served bravely and with distinction in every theater of World War II, while simultaneously struggling for their own civil rights from “the world’s greatest democracy.”
