African Americans in the Second World War

What happened to African Americans during the Second World War?

Around 1 million African Americans fought in the war, and numerous others helped the war effort. However, discrimination and segregation remained widespread.

How did the FEPC help African Americans during the Second World War?

The Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC) was set up in 1941, and it discovered widespread discrimination against African Americans. By the end of the war, 200,000 African Americans held government jobs, three times more than before the war began.

What impact did the Second World War have on African Americans?

Some racial barriers were broken down during the war. For example, African Americans were trained as pilots in the Air Force for the first time. The activities of the Nazis made some white Americans question their own racism.