The African American Experience during World War II (The African American Experience Series)

Drawing on more than thirty years of teaching and research, Neil A. Wynn combines narrative history and primary sources as he locates the World War II years within the long-term struggle for African Americans' equal rights. It is now widely accepted that these years were crucial in the development of the emerging Civil Rights movement through the economic and social impact of the war, as well as the military service itself. Wynn examines the period within the broader context of the New Deal era of the 1930s and the Cold War of the 1950s, concluding that the war years were neither simply a continuation of earlier developments nor a prelude to later change. Rather, this period was characterized by an intense transformation of black hopes and expectations, encouraged by real socio-economic shifts and departures in federal policy. Black self consciousness at a national level found powerful expression in new movements, from the demand for equality in the military service to changes in the shop floor to the "Double V" campaign that linked the fight for democracy at home for the fight for democracy abroad. As the nation played a new world role in the developing Cold War, the tensions between America's stated beliefs and actual practices emphasized these issues and brought new forces into play. More than a half century later, this book presents a much-needed up-to-date, short and readable interpretation of existing scholarship. Accessible to general and student readers, it tells the story without jargon or theory while including the historiography and debate on particular issues.

world War Ii Was Crucial In The Development Of The Emerging Civil Rights Movement, Whether Through The Economic And Social Impact Of The War, Or Through Demands For Equality In The Military. This Period Was Characterized By An Intense Transformation Of Black Hopes And Expectations, Encouraged By Real Socio-economic Shifts And Departures In Federal Policy. During The War, Black Self Consciousness Found Powerful Expression In New Movements Such As The _double V_ Campaign That Linked The Fight For Democracy At Home For The Fight For Democracy Abroad. A Half Century After The War, This Volume Presents A Much-needed, Up-to-date, Short And Readable Interpretation Of Existing Scholarship On The Era And Its Issues. Drawing On More Than Thirty Years Of Teaching And Research, Dr. Wynn Pulls Together Primary Sources And Locates The War Years Within The Long-term Developments Of The Twentieth Century.

publishers Weekly

wynn (the Afro-american And The Second World War) Surveys The Experience Of African-americans During Wwii In This Brief, Readable History—the Latest Entry In The Publisher's African-american History Series. Drawing On Primary Sources And Recent Scholarship, The Author Explores The “contradictory Experience” Of African-americans During The War—“a Mixture Of Progress And Resistance”—and Concludes That “the War Years Were Crucial In The Development Of The Emerging Civil Rights Movement.” Wynn's Evenhanded Analysis Of The Paradoxical Nature Of African-americans' Wartime Experience Yields A Balance Between The Hard-won Successes—including Significant Economic Progress—and The Inevitable Setbacks: Foremost Among Them, The Heightened Racial Divisions That Led To Widespread Violence And The Lack Of Any Real Progress In The Struggle For Social Equality. The Author Argues That African-americans' Wartime Experience Prompted Postwar Advances—e.g., President Harry Truman's 1948 Executive Order Ending Racial Segregation In The Armed Forces—but Notes That, Despite The Gains, African-americans Still Had A Long Way To Go. A Diverse Selection Of Correspondence, Editorials, Government Documents, And Memoirs Enhance The Survey's Value For General Readers. (july)

Synopsis: World War II was crucial in the development of the emerging Civil Rights movement, whether through the economic and social impact of the war, or through demands for equality in the military. This period was characterized by an intense transformation of black hopes and expectations, encouraged by real socio-economic shifts and departures in federal policy. During the war, black self consciousness found powerful expression in new movements such as the "Double V" campaign that linked the fight for democracy at home for the fight for democracy abroad. A half century after the war, this volume presents a much-needed, up-to-date, short and readable interpretation of existing scholarship on the era and its issues. Drawing on more than thirty years of teaching and research, Dr. Wynn pulls together primary sources and locates the war years within the long-term developments of the twentieth century .Cs95E872D0{text-align:left;text-indent:0pt;margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0pt}.cs5EFED22F{color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:12pt; font-weight:normal; font-style:normal; }World War II was crucial in the development of the emerging Civil Rights movement, whether through the economic and social impact of the war, or through demands for equality in the military. This period was characterized by an intense transformation of black hopes and expectations, encouraged by real socio-economic shifts and departures in federal policy. During the war, black self consciou Introduction: The African American and war in historical context African Americans on the eve of war : from new Negro to New Deal, 1920-39 Mobilizing for war : the arsenal of democracy and the struggle for inclusion Fighting for freedom : changing military policy and the Black experience, 1941-45 Conflict on the home front : resistance, riot, and social change The post-war years and changing civil rights : "an American dilemma." Introduction: The African American and war in historical context African Americans on the eve of war : from new Negro to New Deal, 1920-39 Mobilizing for war : the arsenal of democracy and the struggle for inclusion Fighting for freedom : changing military policy and experience, 1940-45 Conflict on the home front : resistance, riot, and social change The post-war years and changing civil rights : "an American dilemma."