WWII+Research+and+Symposium+KYAP

1.Minorities that were recruited into war such as, African Americans and Native Americans displayed a great performance of being equal to the performance of a Caucasian. They tried their hardest to prove that their race made no indication as to how their attended their duties. America stood corrected from their previous prejudice judgments.
 * ‍‍‍‍Minorities Gained Equality During World War II ‍‍‍‍**

2. African Americans involved in the war rapidly rose from 98,000 in 1941 to 468,000 in 1942. The U.S. Marine Corps even began to recruit African Americans. Being in foreign countries serving America, they were treated very fairly and were given the opportunity to develop skill and present their talents. Segregation broke down, for it was difficult to separate races when fighting a common enemy.

3. Many African Americans gained a chance to escape poverty. By joining the military, they were able to rid themselves of the Depression Era and tenant farming that consumed their lives for years in the South and Midwest. They were able to live life more along the lines of a white man.

4. When Hispanics, African Americans and Native Americans returned from fighting in the war, they returned to a nation that included a movement for the expansion of civil rights. This was one of the many steps necessary for equality. Upon the return to America, most African Americans decided to leave their former homes in the South and move to the cities. They were seeking a job that was similar to one they learned about in the armed forces. There were more accepting Americans in the North, which contributed to the advancement of equality among minorities.

5. Although it was tough the gather shelter as a soldier fighting during World War II, Native Americans were provided a tent at the base, which was treating them fairly by giving them a shelter. African Americans were even treated better by having to build two new housing developments for them. This displayed Americans caring about their well being leaning closer towards equality.

6. Mexican Americans served astonishingly well during the war. They received the highest percentage of Congressional Medal of Honor winners of any other minority group in the United States. This gained them more respect among their fellow Americans.

7. From Mexican Americans fighting so well in the war, more Mexicans started to migrate over to the United States. More than 1,000 contracts were agreed upon and sign that allowed Mexican workers to be transported to the United States to work on the railroads.

8. Mexican Americans were welcomed into the job market due to World War II. There was a strong need for farmers in America and Mexican Americans were glad to oblige them. Commercial farmers accepted and treated them equally with no problem. This helped Mexican Americans escape their poverty-stricken past.

9. Native Americans were given a push towards a steady job and fair pay due to their involvement in the war. The annual income increased two and one-half totaling up to $2,500 on average. Native Americans learned how to be demanding and assertive that would help them on their journey to equality in America.

10. Native Americans and Caucasians were forced to work together in order to defeat the common enemy. Working side by side helped to weaken the racial barriers for the Native Americans. This gave room for Native Americans to take a leap towards their Civil Rights after they returned from fighting in the war.

**Primary Sources**

Josh White was an activist in trying to fight discrimination of African Americans during World War II. In the photo he is shown singing one of his songs attempting to persuade Americans into being more tolerate of Africans American and to allow them access into war. In addition, Josh White performed at the White House getting the attention of both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. That led to other visits to the White House and brought more attention to the issue of inequality. Josh White contributed into bringing aware and focus on African Americans during World War II.

African Americans felt that the period after the war would be their time to gain equality. This photo was one that appeared on many newspapers that presented the “Double V” campaign. The two V's in the photo symbolized the victory abroad in winning the war and the victory at home were they were gaining equality in America. As a result of their hopeful spirits, the NAACP's membership prospered from 18,000 to about 500,000. The group also were able to rise the percent of African American voters from 2 to 12 percent. The double victory of African Americans after the war helped jump start the equality movement even further.

"The war broke up a lot of that prejudice. You were there to do a job. And if you can do it, you're going to do it not matter what color you are. You work next to the next guy. Your life depended on him regardless of what color they are." -Birdie Farr

Birdie Farr was an African American woman who had first hand experience to what work for like for a African American male from her husband. He applied to be a mechanic but was rejected from that position. The owner only agreed to have him work as a cleaner. Eventually, he found a job at the auto dealer and was assigned to run the car wash. He worked his way up into becoming mechanic. For twenty two years, he worked as a specialty mechanic until he pursued to started his own auto business. The quote shows how the war was the first stepping stone into becoming a more accepting nation.
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