The Minority Experience in WWII

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The Minority Experience in WWII

• US History
• Mrs. Housenick
• 2/8/13

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Race in World War II

• Racism in military
• Soldiers of color enlisted, but in segregated
  units
• Not given top positions in military
• Many of these minority units were the most
  decorated of the war
• African-Americans Tuskegee Airmen
• Mexican-Americans
• Japanese Americans Not allowed to join at first,
  later formed the 442nd Regimental Combat Team
• Native-Americans Served in Marine Corps as
  Navajo Code Talkers
• Transmitted secret messages to US forces

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African-Americans During War

• Double Victory campaign Victory against
  dictators abroad, and racism at home
• Some victories more job opportunities, increased
  migration to North and West (esp. CA)
• Still, much racism blacks paid less,
  discriminated in housing, in public facilities

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African-American Resistance

• Blacks begin organizing
• 1941 Blacks threatened to march on Washington to
  protest prejudice against African-American
  workers
• In response to threat, Roosevelt banned
  discrimination in government agencies and jobs.
• Established the Fair Employment Practices
  Commission to ensure equal treatment for
  African-Americans and other minorities in war
  industries.
• Important precedent to Civil Rights movement.

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Clip from American Me

• In your notes, jot down three examples of hatred,
  tension or violence between whites and Mexican
  Americans in WWII Los Angeles.

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Racial Tensions in LA during WWII

• Racism against Mexican Americans and the fear of
  teen crime
• Mexican American teenagers who wore zoot suits
  were targeted.
• Seen as unpatriotic and unsupportive of war
• June 1943 2500 soldiers and sailors attacked
  Mexican American neighborhoods in LA--gt ZOOT SUIT
  RIOTS

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Women in WWII

• Benefited from huge demand for labor because of
  wartime production
• Many American women entered workforce for first
  time
• Rosie the Rivetericon of women worker
• Women told it was their patriotic duty to work
• Over 6 million women entered the workforce
• Women who worked before the war were able to get
  better paying jobs when war began

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Did Womens Roles Really Change?

• Men continued to dominate supervisory positions
• Women still paid less
• WOMEN FORCED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE AT THE END OF
  THE WAR!
• Women veterans were not recognized for benefits
  until 1979.