Blacks in the Military: The Struggles of Black Veterans

Black Veterans Podcast #1

 

Welcome to rememberinghistory.com where we are remembering history and we’re making it. I’m Robin Lofton, the Chief In-house Historian and host of this great and groundbreaking show that will inspire YOU and your FAMILY with true stories, real experiences, practical lessons, cultural traditions, and fun celebrations—all inspired by African American history. I find history to BE inspirational, instructional and entertaining. And African American history fits the bill in all of these ways. Personally, I hate boring stuff. So boring stuff is not allowed at rememberinghistory.com or at this Wiki history podcast show.

 

Speaking of the show, today’s podcast show is about African American servicewomen and men and veterans. I think that this is a great time to learn about Black veterans. Why? Because it’s November. In the United States, we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11, which is also Remembrance Day or Armistice Day in other parts of the world.

 

Yes, this is the month in which we celebrate the service of the brave men and women in the United States military. It is truly an honor and a pleasure to remember them but I often feel that this is not enough. One month and the sincerest thank you are not enough to compensate them for their courage, their commitment and their sacrifice. So, I’m inclined to thank them every day. To show appreciation every day.

 

How can we show real appreciation to our African American veterans for what they have endured?

 

Several ways. First, we can learn the history. We can learn what they have endured as servicemen and women. And it goes far beyond their service on the battlefield. Second, we can remember their contributions, their heroism and their undying commitment to fighting for freedom. Third, we can ask what we can do for THEM today. We can give back to these people who gave us so much.

 

And that is what this Wiki history podcast show is going to do this month.

 

I just want first to mention that, during this podcast, you will hear about people, places, events and issues. You will HEAR about them, but I completely understand if you want to actually SEE them, too. You can find pictures of them on the Wiki History Podcast Page on Facebook. You will find pictures, animated videos and a community of history lovers. There is also a place for comments, which I hope that you will leave for me because I really appreciate them and I do respond. Also, if you enjoy this show, please let others know about it. They might like it and find it inspirational too. Let’s change the way that we think of history—one friend at a time.

And the Rememberinghistory.com staff is committed to presenting the stories and contributions of African Americans but we also want to encourage you to make history today. We hope that this show does that but also we have the Making History Today! newsletter that teaches people how to change the world! It’s actually easier than you might think but it’s a great newsletter that you can subscribe to at the Rememberinghistory.com website and Facebook page. Don’t be shy; go right ahead and subscribe and get started changing the world and making history!

 

Let’s begin with the history right now.

 

Did you know that African Americans have served in every major American war since arriving in the American colonies? From Crispus Atticus in the Revolutionary War up to modern times, African Americans have always had a strong presence in the U.S. military. Yes, even in the two world wars, African Americans were a dominant force. The Vietnam War saw the largest number of African American soldiers in combat. And also the youngest group of soldiers, but of course this was true for soldiers of other ethnicities as well.* More recently, African Americans have served in the Persian Gulf wars and in Iraq* and Afghanistan.

 

 

I think that the African American experience in the military was perfectly summarized by historian and scholar, WEB Dubois when he said:

 

We return. We return from fighting. We return fighting.

 

We return. We return from fighting. We return fighting.

 

What did Dr. Dubois mean by this statement? He wrote it in May, 1919 following the World War I. This meaning has changed over time but it reflects the difficulties that African American servicemen and women faced in the past and continue to be confronted with. But the point is that African American servicemen and women and veterans are still confronted with different issues than their white counterparts. Today it is frustrating and infuriating. In the past, it was fatal.

 

Let me explain. From the end of the Civil War through the end of the second world war, African Americans who served their country were confronted with violence and terror. During the period between 1877 and 1950, more than 4,000 African Americans were lynched. (By the way, this important research was done by the Equal Justice Initiative—and was the most comprehensive research done to date. They should definitely be commended for this unprecedented survey of the lynching of African Americans, showing that there was a virtual reign of terror happening against Americans during that period.) Yes, more than 4,000 African Americans were killed during that period. And research showed that no one was more at risk of experiencing violence and targeted racial terror than Black veterans. White soldiers absolutely did not face this kind of treatment following their military service.

 

On this point, Bryan Stevenson (executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative) said, “We do so much in this country to celebrate and honor folks who risk their lives on the battlefield. But we don’t remember that black veterans were more likely to be attacked for their service than honored for it.” Wow!

 

Let’s look back to the armistice following world war I. Black soldiers returning home were greeted with a wave of intense hostility and discrimination. Whites were suspicious and angered at the thought of Black soldiers enjoying certain freedoms, civil rights and possibly liaisons with white women in Europe. And the black soldiers had experienced freedoms in Europe and they were ready to assert those rights when they returned back to the United States. The stage was set for an intense conflict. It began in the summer of 1919, which became known as the Red Summer.

 

 

Anti-black riots erupted in 20 cities throughout the United States. A Louisiana newspaper editor wrote, “This is the right time to show them what will and what will not be permitted.” At least 13 African American veterans were killed by lynch mobs. Countless more endured beatings, shootings and whippings. The Red Summer is still remembered by older Black veterans and their families. It was a rude awakening to the fact that even though African Americans had fought valiantly, died courageously and contributed constantly to the war effort, they were not going to enjoy the civil rights and freedoms that they had fought for in Europe. And white citizens were quick to remind them that the white supremacist social structures still existed.

 

Just the sight of a Black veteran wearing a soldier’s uniform put that soldier at risk of serious bodily harm or death. In fact, the only provocation was often a black man’s insistence on wearing his soldier’s uniform in public. Again, Bryan Stevenson explains it. “Just the sight of a black soldier, just the suggestion that he might take on that empowered, adult, mature identity—that could get him killed.”

 

And it did. In Hickman, Kentucky in December 1918 just weeks after the end of WWI, recently-discharged African American soldier named Charles Lewis was standing on the street in his uniform when a white police officer began harassing him and claimed that he fit the description of a robbery suspect. Mr. Lewis insisted that he was a good soldier and would not commit robbery. He was arrested. At midnight, a mob of masked men broke into the jail, seized Mr. Lewis and hanged him. They left his body (still in uniform) hanging for all to see. A newspaper headline the following morning was titled, “Nip it in the bud.”

 

Then there is the story of World War II veteran, Isaac Woodard. On February 12, 1946, Isaac Woodard wore his uniform on a Greyhound bus travelling from George to North Carolina. When he protested mistreatment from the white bus driver, South Carolina police beat him so severely that he was permanently blinded. Although the NAACP protested the attack and demanded prosecution for the offenders, no one was ever convicted. Mr. Woodard later stated, “ We went overseas and did our duty and now we’re home and have to fight another struggle that I think outweighs the war.”

 

He wasn’t alone in his experience. Civil rights activist, Hosea Williams, had been captured by Germans during the second world war. After his release, he stated, “I want to tell you the Germans never were as inhumane as the state troopers of Alabama.” That says a lot.

 

So while Black and white Americans fought for freedoms and democracy abroad, white Americans were willing to accept, condone or remain silent on the issue of racial terror, violence and oppression targeted towards African Americans--particularly African American VETERANS—in their own country.

 

But this racial terror did not start in the 20th century. It began much earlier. As I said, African Americans have been fighting in wars since the American Revolution. But the real terror began following the Civil War.

 

More than 200,000 African Americans fought in the Civil War. Originally, the Union army was reluctant to allow Black soldiers to fight at all, claiming that that the Black soldiers would feel entitled to respect and rights after the war ended. They served as soldiers, spies, nurses and in supportive roles. In fact, Sojourner Truth served as a spy during the Civil War. The movie, Glory, showed a major battle at Fort Wagner that the 54th Regiment (an all-Black unit) courageously fought but, unfortunately, never won for the Union. But this was just the beginning. Afterwards, many Black soldiers were allowed to join the Union army and President Lincoln credited them with the Union’s victory.

 

However, following the war at the start of the Reconstruction era in 1877, African American soldiers lost the rights that that had fought for. They were no longer slaves but they were still living in a society founded on white supremacy.   They were prohibited from handling or carrying weapons, they were assaulted, driven from their homes and killed by lynch mobs.

 

Nevertheless, 380,000 African Americans enlisted in the segregated Army to fight during the First World War.

 

Why would they do that?

 

Many had a sense of “patriotic unity” and they hoped that it would increase their social status in the United States. Mississippi Senator James Vardaman warned that this would happen. In a speech on the senator floor in 1917, he stated, “The return of black veterans to the South would inevitably lead to disaster because once you impress the negro with the fact that he is defending the flag and inflate his untutored soul with military airs, he will believe that his political rights must be respected.” In his crude and demeaning way, the senator was right. After Black soldiers returned from Europe where they experienced freedom and more equality, they did expect the same type of treatment when they returned home. But all that they discovered was a society holding on its white supremacist foundation and willing to maintain it through terror and violence. That’s how the Red Summer began. Hundreds of Black men, women and children were killed by mobs and police violence throughout the country. Black veterans were specifically targeted. They were shown no appreciation or respect for their service.

 

I don’t know if you have heard of the Harlem Hellfighters. They were the 369th infantry regiment who fought in the first world war. They fought so courageously and effectively that France awarded them the country’s highest military honor. Yes, they were an African American unit. Shown the highest respect in Europe but at home they were shown neither respect nor honor.

 

And this continued following the Second World War in which more than a million African Americans enlisted. Despite all of the violence, discrimination and America’s commitment to maintaining a social structure that kept Blacks in an inferior position, more African Americans than ever enlisted to fight for freedom and democracy abroad. And African Americans continued to fight with skill and honor. I hope that you have heard of the Tuskegee Airmen who served in World War II. Yes, there were many others—if we have time, I’ll discuss them but you can also find them on the Wiki History Podcast page on Facebook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet, as in the first world war, discrimination was active and virtually mirrored the segregated, white supremacist society at home. Black soldiers worked in inferior positions, cleaning the officer’s quarters and latrines or were given highly dangerous, front-line combat missions that were considered too dangerous for white soldiers. Punishments for Black soldiers were often excessively harsh. Black soldiers at military bases in the segregated south were forbidden from eating in restaurants though the restaurants would serve German prisoners of war. White supremacy remained the norm in military life as in the civilian world.

 

After the war and the return of the Black veterans to the United States, the terror and violence resumed and even increased for Black veterans. Any African American in uniform was at high risk for violence and killing.

 

You might ask why the soldiers would wear the uniforms if that would put them at increased risk of violence. Great question.

 

But I see that there was pride in their military service and what they contributed to fighting tyranny and protecting democracy around the world. The soldiers walked with confidence and a newly discovered feeling of entitlement. They had experienced freedom in other parts of the world. They wanted—demanded—those rights when they returned home. The proud and confident black soldier scared many white people and threatened the white supremacist social structure. So, yes, the violence increased. But the African American veterans were changed forever and this changed the entire Black community forever. The modern civil rights movement was imminent, brought in part by these confident and uplifted Black veterans of the second world war. I’m thinking about Hosea Williams (he was the one who preferred the experience as a POW in a German prison to facing Alabama state troopers). And Medgar Evers who became a powerful leader in the NAACP. The black soldiers and veterans changed their communities and the country.

 

But the fight was not over yet. The United States federal government passed the GI bill—and it “attacked” African American veterans and their families on a different front. This will take us directly into the second part of this great and groundbreaking podcast show.

 

If you like, you can take a break here. Then continue on to the next podcast that discusses the GI Bill and its effect on African American veterans, their families and communities. But please don’t stop here because you don’t want to miss that exciting and disturbing part about how Black veterans struggled in the past and how they AND their families are still struggling.

 

But if you choose to stop--Hey, it’s a free country--I just want to remind you of the Wiki History Podcast Page where you can find more information and pictures of the people discussed in this podcast. Also, you will find interesting discussions, questions, videos, games and a whole community of history lovers just like me and you. So please stop by the facebook page and join the fun. Also, I will give you a sneak peek into the podcasts for December. Rememberinghistory.com and Wiki podcast page will discuss Kwanzaa! Yes, it’s that season again and we will discuss the 7 fantastic days of that great and festive celebration.

 

Finally, please remember that for everyone who listens to these podcast shows, the rememberinghistory.com staff will donate $1 to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. It’s a great museum—long overdue—but it’s here now and we must support it and other efforts to preserve and honor African American history.

 

So that’s all for now. You can’t see me but I’m standing and saluting our Black servicewomen and men on active duty AND our Black veterans. Let’s remember to honor them this month and every month.

 

See you soon at rememberinghistory.com where we our remembering history AND we’re making it every day. Bye for now!