Propaganda became a tactic used to get more people involved in the war effort. In regards to minorities, they tried using sentimental tactics, such as "avenging Pearl Harbor," or making them seem equal to other predominant races.
|
Minorites in the War
During World War II, Minorities were oppressed in several forms. This did not stop them from showing tremendous bravery. Due to the bravery these men portrayed during war time, many of them helped pave the way for the beginning of racial equality.
During World War II, Minorities were oppressed in several forms. This did not stop them from showing tremendous bravery. Due to the bravery these men portrayed during war time, many of them helped pave the way for the beginning of racial equality.
On the date of January 6th, 1941 President Franklin Roosevelt delivered his "Four Freedoms' Speech” in which he stated that "African Americans should not see the hypocrisy between conditions at home and the noble war efforts" (1). He said this because segregation was constitutional among the troops during that time. Because of this, many African Americans felt alienated from the war effort. They did not see the point of fighting for a country that hated them so much. Fighting against Fascism meant fighting against racism; however, The United States of America strongly believed in racial segregation during that time. What exactly were minorities fighting for? Sometimes they would get mistreated much more harshly overseas than they did back home. "On June 1st, the United States government allowed, after 167 years, African Americans to enlist in the military“(2). The Tuskegee airmen were the first black servicemen to serve as military aviators in the U.S. armed forces,” (3) because of their success, this helped pave the way for integration in the U.S armed forces in 1948. African American men showed courage and, above all, placed hatred aside by fighting alongside other minorities regardless of how they treated them back home.
Hispanic Americans, for the most part, had their own separate missions. The 65th Infantry Regiment was mostly composed of Puerto Ricans. They were deployed to Panama to guard the Panama Canal. “On 1944 deployed to North Africa, then to Italy, Corsica, France, and the Maritime Alps of Peira Cava where they had first combat action in WWII, 47 battle casualties” (4). The 158th Infantry were mostly composed of Mexican Americans and some North American Indians. They fought using bayonets and were much less experience; thus, sending them to war was suicide. "The bayonet charges were suicidal, but the 158th Regimental Combat Team, the "Bushmasters", repulsed the enemy and advanced," meaning that even though they were much inferior to the enemy, they gave it their all and constantly tried to eliminate the enemy and save themselves.. Many Hispanics were later recognized for their bravery. “A Marine Corps Private, Guy Gabaldon, won a Silver Star for capturing 1,000 Japanese.” (6). Mexican Americans, on the other hand, were harshly discriminated against and were sent to battles to die due to their lack of experience.
|
Native Americans volunteered to join the military. They wanted to prove to the word their loyalty to their country. Unlike other minorities, they were highly respected among other men of different ethnic backgrounds because legends of tough Native American warriors became a custom of American life. These men were bigger than most and scared other soldiers easily. Navajo Code Talkers were used to send messages across seas. Because the Navajo language is so difficult to depict, this was the biggest Native American success. Japanese could not learn the language. When they came back home, they were honored by receiving “Purple Hearts, Air Medals, Distinguished Flying Crosses, Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguished Service Crosses, and three Congressional Medals of Honor” (6). They also had a greater per capita contribution. The lives of many Native Americans were forever changed due to this war. Once they came back home, many of them left the reservations to join the American life. They moved to rural areas and slowly started become part of American culture. The war changed their lives for the better.
|
To reiterate, the war changed the lives of many minorities for the better. The movement for racial equality with many minorities started because of this war. Segregation in the military ended after this war because men saw the bravery African Americans possessed, Puerto Ricans were, for the first time, viewed as American citizens, and many Native Americans left the reservation in search for a new life when they came back home. Mistreatment was a common thing and many times the men felt they were fighting for a country that hated them; thus, it wasn't a country they wanted to give their lives for. Nevertheless, the courage of these men became the ultimate result towards the push from racial equality.
Footnotes
(1) Henry Louis Gates Jr., "What was Black America's Double War?," PBS, 4/1/2015, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-was-black-americas-double-war/
(2) "African-Americans in World War II," The History Place, 4/1/2015, http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/aframerwar/
(3) "Tuskegee Airmen," History, 4/2/2015, http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen
(4) "The Borinqueneers: Historical Highlights," Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance, 4/1/2015, http://www.borinqueneers.org/65th-infantry-historia.html#sthash.lljuim3s.dpbs
(5) "Different Race Benefit," MS 210, 4/2/1025, http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region5/ms210/www_two/racialbenefit.html
(6) Army History: The Professional Bulletin of Army History, No. 35 (Fall 1995), pp. 22-27
Bibliography
"65th Infantry Historia." Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. http://www.borinqueneers.org/65th-infantry-historia.html#sthash.lljuim3s.dpbs
"Racial Benefits of WWII." Racial Benefits of WWII. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region5/ms210/www_two/racialbenefit.html
"The History Place - African-Americans in WW II." The History Place - African-Americans in WW II. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/aframerwar/
"Tuskegee Airmen." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen
"What Was Black America’s Double War?" PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-was-black-americas-double-war/
(1) Henry Louis Gates Jr., "What was Black America's Double War?," PBS, 4/1/2015, http://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-was-black-americas-double-war/
(2) "African-Americans in World War II," The History Place, 4/1/2015, http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/aframerwar/
(3) "Tuskegee Airmen," History, 4/2/2015, http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen
(4) "The Borinqueneers: Historical Highlights," Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance, 4/1/2015, http://www.borinqueneers.org/65th-infantry-historia.html#sthash.lljuim3s.dpbs
(5) "Different Race Benefit," MS 210, 4/2/1025, http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region5/ms210/www_two/racialbenefit.html
(6) Army History: The Professional Bulletin of Army History, No. 35 (Fall 1995), pp. 22-27
Bibliography
"65th Infantry Historia." Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal Alliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. http://www.borinqueneers.org/65th-infantry-historia.html#sthash.lljuim3s.dpbs
"Racial Benefits of WWII." Racial Benefits of WWII. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. http://schools.nycenet.edu/Region5/ms210/www_two/racialbenefit.html
"The History Place - African-Americans in WW II." The History Place - African-Americans in WW II. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/aframerwar/
"Tuskegee Airmen." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 2 Apr. 2015. http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen
"What Was Black America’s Double War?" PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-was-black-americas-double-war/