Racism against African Americans in the U.S. military
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2009) |
Revolutionary War
African-Americans served on both sides of the war in the capacity of both fighting men and slaves. While the
In response, George Washington lifted the ban on black enlistment in the Continental Army in January 1776.[citation needed] All-black units were formed in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and many of those enrolled were slaves promised freedom for serving. At least 5,000 African-American soldiers fought as revolutionaries, while at least 20,000 served with the British.[citation needed]
War of 1812
While the Army remained primarily white, a substantial minority of the sailors in the
The law of 1792, which generally prohibited enlistment of blacks in the Army, became the United States Army's official policy until 1862. Due to its chronic shortage of personnel, the Navy never bothered with any restrictions on the enlistment of African-Americans.[citation needed]
Civil War
The
Although black soldiers proved themselves as reputable soldiers, discrimination in pay and other areas remained widespread. According to the Militia Act of 1862, soldiers of African descent were to receive $10.00 a month, with an optional deduction for clothing at $3.00. In contrast, white privates received $13.00 per month plus a clothing allowance of $3.50. In early June 1864, Private Sylvester Ray of the 2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry was recommended for trial because he refused to accept pay inferior to that of white soldiers.
First Lieutenant Edwin Hughes of the 2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry, recorded Private Ray as stating, ". . . none of us will sign again for seven dollars a month. . . ."[7] Later that month, Congress granted equal pay to the U.S. Colored troops and made the action retroactive.
Following the Civil War, an effort was made to allow blacks to attend the
Philippine–American War
After the Treaty of Paris, the islands of the Philippines became a colony of the United States. When the U.S. Military started to send soldiers into the islands, most of the native population who had already been fighting their former Spanish rulers, opposed U.S. colonization and retaliated, causing an insurrection. In what would be known as the Philippine–American War, the U.S. Military also sent colored regiments and units to stop the insurrection. However, due to the discrimination of African-American soldiers, many of them defected to the Philippine Army.
One of those who defected was David Fagen, who was given the rank of captain in the Philippine Army. Fagen served in the 24th Regiment of the U.S. Army, but on 17 November 1899,[9] he defected to the Filipino army.[10] He became a successful guerrilla leader and his capture became an obsession to the U.S. military and American public. His defection was likely the result of differential treatment by American occupational forces toward black soldiers, as well as common American forces derogatory treatment and views of the Filipino occupational resistance, who were frequently referred to as "niggers" and "gugus".[11]
After two other black deserters were captured and executed, President Theodore Roosevelt announced he would stop executing captured deserters.[12] As the war ended, the US gave amnesties to most of their opponents. A substantial reward was offered for Fagen, who was considered a traitor. There are two conflicting versions of his fate: one is that his was the partially decomposed head for which the reward was claimed, the other is that he took a local wife and lived peacefully in the mountains.[13]
Interwar period
"The Navy's racial segregation policies limited African Americans' participation in World War I and, after the war, barred black enlistments altogether from 1919 to 1932. The only black sailors in uniform during that period were the ones aboard in 1919 who were allowed to stay to retire."
In 1932 black people were allowed to serve on US Navy ships as stewards and mess attendants.[14]
World War II
During World War II, African-American enlistment was at an all-time high, with more than 1 million serving in the armed forces.[16] Many African-Americans believed that if they could fight and die for their country, their equality would no longer be denied. However, there was a reluctance to allow African-Americans to join combat units and many were against arming black Americans with weapons.[8] However, their eagerness to enlist provided President Roosevelt an opportunity to meet demands and make the steps towards racial integration in the defence industry.[17]
However, the U.S. military remained entirely segregated throughout the war: the marines had no black people enlisted in combat infantry. There were black people in the Navy Seabees, and the United States Army Air Corps all-white policy gave birth to the segregated all-black unit of the Tuskegee Airmen, who trained and lived on a separate airfield and base[18] but endured this in order to prove that African-Americans had what it took to fly military aircraft. The army had only five African-American officers,[16] and these officers were never allowed to command white troops.[17] In addition, no African-American would receive the Medal of Honor during the war, while their tasks in the war were largely reserved to noncombat units, and black soldiers had to sometimes give up their seats in trains to Nazi prisoners of war.[16]
One example of African Americans receiving different treatment was the 17th Special Naval Construction Battalion and the 16th Marine Field Depot on the island of
The Field Depot Marines are recorded as again having carried ammunition to the front lines on the stretchers they brought the wounded back on and picked up rifles to become
- On Peleliu when all was done, the white shore party detachments from the 33rd and 73rd CBs received Presidential Unit Citations as did the primary shore party (1st Marine Pioneers).[26] The Commander of the 17th Special CB (segregated) received the same commendatory letter as the Company Commanders of the 7th Marine Ammo Co. (segregated) and the 11th Marine Depot Co.(segregated). Before the battle was even over, Major General Rupertus USMC wrote to each that: "THE NEGRO RACE CAN WELL BE PROUD OF THE WORK PERFORMED [by the 11th Marine Depot Company/ 7th Marine Ammunition Company/ 17th CB]. THE WHOLEHEARTED CO-OPERATION AND UNTIRING EFFORTS WHICH DEMONSTRATED IN EVERY RESPECT THAT THEY APPRECIATED THE PRIVILEGE OF WEARING A MARINE UNIFORM AND SERVING WITH THE MARINES IN COMBAT. PLEASE CONVEY TO YOUR COMMAND THESE SENTIMENTS AND INFORM THEM THAT IN THE EYES OF THE ENTIRE DIVISION THEY HAVE EARNED A "WELL DONE"."[27][28] The Department of the Navy made an official press release of a copy of the 17th CB's letter on 28 November 1944.[29]
It would take over 50 years and a presidential order before the U.S. Army reviewed their records in order to award any Medals of Honor to black soldiers. This war marked the end of segregation in the U.S. military. In 1948 President Truman signed Executive Order 9981, officially ending segregation in the military.
Korean War
An estimated "600,000"[30] African Americans fought in the conflict, with "roughly 9.3%"[31] of Americans killed in the war being African American. However, that is not to say that by the Korean War racism had been eliminated within the military due to Executive Order 9981. The double V(ictory) campaign, first established in the Second World War, was considered by some to have continued into Korea, this idea being that the U.S military was fighting for victory on two fronts, "racism at home and in the service".[32] This displays the lasting racism in the military even in the years after the Second World War and Executive Order 9981, intended to abolish discrimination within the U.S military.
Vietnam War
African-American's who were involved in the Vietnam war were still subject to racism despite the actions of President Truman, the unfiarness of the draft, which negatel for the war was viewed by many in the African-American community as racist with a 1966 Newsweek poll showing this.[33]
Due to the continuing racism that remained in the United States during the Vietnam War, it was considered by some that "Black Americans"[34] who fought during Vietnam (and also Korea) were fighting, "for the right to fight",[34] this displays the approach of some African Americans who believed that fighting in for the United States would result in greater assimilation in the pursuit of equality.
Modern Military
Despite the desegregation of the military in 1948 by Executive Order 9981, the military is still plagued by accusations of racism, in 2020 Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff took questions from a senate committee alongisde Defence Secretary Mark Esper regarding Civilian Law Enforcement. During the session Milley condemned systemic racism in the United States Armed Forces, testifying that there is no place in the US military, "for manifestations or symbols of racism, bias or discrimination".[35]
Evidence of progress within the US military can be seen through the appointment of Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr as the first African American to lead a branch of the US military in 2020[36] by President Donald Trump as the 22nd Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 2020 to 2023. Following this in May 2023, he was nominated President Joe Biden to become the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, succeeding General Milley, his term is effective as of October 1, 2023.[37]
See also
References
- ^ OCLC 729629958.
- ^ Sharp, John G. (14 May 2019). "The Washington Navy Yard Strike and "Snow Riot" of 1835". usgenwebarchives. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020.
- ^ Wilkinson to Bancroft 6 December 1845 NARA M125 "Captains Letters" Letter Received from Captains 1805 -1885, 1 Nov 1845 – 31 Dec 1845, dated 6 Dec 1845, letter number 84, 1–2
- ^ Sharp, John G. "List of Gosport Navy Yard Employees Military and Civilian, 1846". usgenwebarchives. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021.
- ^ Hassler, Warren W. (17 June 2020). "American Civil War". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- ^ "Black Soldiers in the U.S. Military During the Civil War | National Archives". 15 August 2016.
- ^ "Black History Legends Nuggets". Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ^ Clare, Rod (July 2005). "The Sixth Wave: Black Integration in the U.S. Naval Academy". Retrieved 9 March 2013.
- ^ Juan, E. San. "A HOMAGE TO DAVID FAGEN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN SOLDIER IN THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION". academia.edu: 20. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
- ^ Rudy Rimando, "Interview with Historical Novelist William Schroder: Before Iraq, There Was the Philippines" [permanent dead link], 28 November 2004, History news Network.
- ISBN 978-1782384397. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-7881-3990-1.
- ^ Ryan, Joseph (June 1998). "The Saga of David Fagen: Black Rebel in the Philippine Insurrection". Socialist Action. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
- ^ "Defense.gov News Article: African Americans in the Navy". archive.defense.gov. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- ^ Antill, Peter (2003), Peleliu, battle for (Operation Stalemate II) – The Pacific War's Forgotten Battle, September–November 1944, "HITTING THE BEACH 3rd paragraph" [1]
- ^ ISBN 978-0393935530.
- ^ a b "Black GIs in Britain". The Mixed Museum. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
- ^ "Legacy: The Story". tuskegeeairmen.org. Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
- ^ Ratomski, John J. "Peleliu Shore Party". Tribute to Michael A. Lazaro and all other Peleliu Veterans. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "17th Special NCB cruisebook" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. p. 29. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "Seabees of 17th Special Naval Construction Battalion wait to assist wounded of 7th Marines". World War II Database. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "African-American Marines of 16th Field Depot Rest on Peleliu". World War II Database. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "17 Special Naval Construction Battalion" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ Princeton University Library, Marine Corps Chevron, Vol 3 Number 48, 2 December 1944 [2]
- ^ Peleliu, battle for (Operation Stalemate II) – The Pacific War's Forgotten Battle, September–November 1944, (section: Hitting the Beach, 3rd paragraph), Military History Encyclopedia on the Web, by: Peter D Antill, Tristan Dugdale-Pointon, and Dr John Rickard, [3]
- ^ 1st Marine Pioneers, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, First Marine Division, Reinforced, Assault and seizure of Peleliu and Ngesebus, Palau Islands, Part II. UNIT AWARDS, Section 1, Navy-Marine Corps Awards Manual(Rev 1953) p. 15 Naval History and Heritage Command, [4]
- ^ The Right to Fight:African American Marines in WWII, Peleliu and Iwo Jima, Bernard C. Naulty, Marine Corps Historical Center, Building 58, Washington Navy Yard, Washington D.C. 20374, 1974, PCN 190-003132-00 [5]
- ISBN 1-57607-746-2[6]
- ^ "17th Special NCB cruisebook" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. p. 29. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
- ^ "Buffalo Soldiers in the Korean War".
- ^ Wilberforce, Mailing Address: P. O. Box 428; Us, OH 45384 Phone: 937 352-6757 Main park information line Contact. "Buffalo Soldiers in the Korean War - Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - PMID 26359249.
- ^ Eldridge, Lawrence Allen. Chronicles of a Two-Front War: Civil Rights and Vietnam in the African American Press.
- ^ a b Phillips Boehm, Kimberley L (2014). War! What Is It Good For?. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press.
- ^ "No Place for Racism, Discrimination in U.S. Military, Milley Says". Joint Chiefs of Staff. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ "Senate confirms Brown to be 22nd Air Force chief of staff on unanimous vote". Air Force. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
- ^ President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retrieved 3 February 2024
External links
- "Building For A Nation and Equality: African American Seabees in World War II" in archived Seabee Magazine
- "A Chronology of African American Military Service From the Colonial Era through the Antebellum Period" via Internet Archive, author unknown
- "Medal of Honor Recipients: African American World War II" archived U.S. Army Center of Military History web page
- Michael Lee Lanning. The African-American Soldier: From Crispus Attucks to Colin Powell. New York: Birch Lane, 1997
- Krewasky A. Salter. "Combat Multipliers: African-American Soldiers in Four Wars, a PDF file