War Propaganda (Essay Sample)

How Did World War II Influence the Civil Rights Activism or Racial Relations?
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How Did World War II Influence the Aspect of Civil Rights Activism Or Racial Relations?
Thousand of whites in America were employed in industries, and this was observed to be one of the factors that influenced the U.S into WWII. A. Phillip Randolph, a black labor leader, had threatened to initiate a mass march on Washington if more blacks were not given equal employment opportunities (Jones, 2013). According to Jones (2013), Randolph observed that it was time to wake Washington up as it has never been shocked before, afraid the planned march would end up in an international embracement and race riots, the then president to the United States, Franklin Roosevelt, ordered the banning of discrimination in the defense industries. Fascism fights during World War II led to the contradictions between the treatment of racial minorities and the idea of equality and democracy. It is observed that throughout World War II, civil organizations, for example NAACP toiled to end the existing racial discrimination in the armed forces. It was a period when African Americans were more assertive in demanding equality in social-civil life. The following text will analyze World War II's influence on civil rights activism based on racial discrimination.
During World War II, America was pushing for international policies that advocated for many social, economic, and civil rights growth; among the policies was the fight against racism. The irony of the period was that at the same time, the government was pushing for these ideologies to the outside world; back at home, they denied their citizens the opportunity of enjoying equal rights based on race (see fig 1.). To counter the above, almost immediately after returning home, black veterans initiated civil rights groups with a common goal of fighting racism, especially in the army. Although crucial to mention the above men, they do not fit truly in the narrative of civil rights movements of the 1960s where we observed the Montgomery bus boycott to Selma March. African American Veterans linked to World War II utilized different strategies compared to the indirect and direct action, non-violent acts such as disobedience to Jim Crows laws and segregation. Abandoning the illegal strategies, such as marches and sit-ins, African Americans World War II veterans fought for equal rights by utilizing the existing structures and using legal means that exposed the problems and flaws in the system and provided justifications for their actions and their intended strategies.
Fig. 1. Tuskegee Airmen (1941)
Source: ("Tuskegee Airmen (1941) | The American Yawp Reader," n.d.)
The above photo shows Major James A. Ellison saluting back at Mac Ross, who was among the Tuskegee cadets' graduates in the Tuskegee Airmen. The picture depicts the poise and pride of Tuskegee Airmen, who endured the tradition of Black Americans servicing in the military of a country that was still treating Blacks as second-class citizens. 1941
Introduction of the industrialization and war using Jacksonville:
Due to the war demands, many men were compelled into service, supporting World War II. However, it is observed the drafting was different for the White men compared to that of the Black men. Although there was an overall drafting strategy used, black men were often denied joining the force. The black men could be selected consistently, but the local draft boards would later review them and characterize them as unfit for service. As the war intensified, there was more demand for the war workforce.
The constant demand for labor forced the War Manpower Commission to recruit to meet the labor demand; this meant looking at both men and women -white and black to meet the persisting War labor demand. However, the recruitment process was observed to have several different mindsets that created a lift between the whites and the blacks being recruited into service. One, the mindset was the Black American will where it is the quickest and easiest to make money. This mindset prevailed, but there was the fact that the same board officials needed black labor. Black labor was needed as an essential as war production jobs were developing with the war intensifying. Activism could be witnessed although in bits- for example, at this time, the black workers previously recruited and were asked to transfer to work at the essential services of the war were seen to change their mind when they were informed that transport cost would not be paid. The regional director observed that this decision did not come from the black workers themselves as individuals but from influences and guidance by the disrupting influences in the labor market.
To avoid the above issues and ensure the production of war was as efficient as possible, the federal government joined the war manpower commission to beat the local concerns, especially those raised by the black Americans both at the service, veterans, and those offering labor to service meant for war. Extending their influence into the War, president Franklin authorized the executive order, which stated and called for equitable and full involvement of all labours in the defence manufacturing, abandoning discrimination grounded on color,national origin, race, and creed.
Training
A fundamental structural change occurred to every military branch while they were gearing up for World War II. For example, technological advancements meant more training as there were improved equipment and tools for combat. The man on foot was no longer an efficient strategy. This meant rapid mechanization of the military and the development of thicker layers of bureaucracy. Despite the growing numbers of Blacks in the service, there was infantry and modernity in the military. Combustion-powered vehicles became standard of transportation for assault and the introduction of more aircraft tactics. The increasing need for sophisticated weapons increased the demand for soldiers throughout the United States. Mechanization had a significant influence on the military structure.
Mechanization meant more training. There were new positions created, and there was an opportunity to determine whom to do what leading to specialization in the military (see Fig 4). This led to the question of what to do with the large growing body of black servicemen. They were to join the service as assignees to support positions and hence less or underrepresented in the combat arms section. The few who got to go overseas for war served in different capacities and had to spend weeks and months in training to honor their skills. While at war overseas, their lives depended on the practical application of the skills they had learned. When the war ended, the military turned the black servicemen into experts in their respective fields.
It is observed that combat skills gained were useful after returning home from World War II, especially for veterans facing violence perpetrated by the whites. Lynching transcended regional borders, and hundreds of racially motivated incidents were a scourge on the black community. Decades before World War II, African Americans were victims of mob justice where unspeakable horrors were delivered. The same script was to happen after World War II, where white Southerners were eagerly waiting to lynch black veterans, especially those in uniform. At the time, the military uniform was observed to be a symbol of equality, something the white southerners were against off. A black private and a white private were essentially equal unless one of them was promoted. This representation was seen to go against the whites' superiority and segregation that were codified in the Jim Crows laws. Those who believed in racial superiority would not appreciate the army's visual representation and hence the violence. It was observed that vi