Impact of World War I on African Americans culture
What was the Impact of World War I on African Americans culture, society, and politics in the 1920’s
The following questions can help you construct your response, but you do not need to answer each and every one of the questions below:
What was wartime service like for black soldiers?
How were black soldiers received when they returned to the United States in 1919?
What obstacles did African Americans face in the wake of World War I?
What was the difference in the experiences of black people in the South and the North during the 1920’s?
How did the war shape the premise of black political ideologies during the 1920’s?
Who were notable individuals that represented change at this time?
Did self-conceptions of blackness change during this time, and if so, how?
Sample Solution
Imagine risking your life at war, spending your day fighting and your night wondering if it is your last. Imagine risking all you have for your country. Imagine coming home to that very same country and being treated as if you are less than human. Sadly, the African American soldiers and citizens of World War I didn’t have to imagine: they lived it. They gave their lives to Uncle Sam, and in turn, he told them to take a back seat. WWI galvanized the Black community in their effort to make America truly democratic by ensuring full citizenship for all its people. Black soldiers, who continued to serve in segregated units, were involved in protest against racial injustices on the home front and abroad.
