Essay On African American Discrimination During World War 1

Words: 750
Pages: 3

World War 1, while causing much damage and many devastating changes, also had a positive outcome once it was over. Women and African Americans were argumentatively the biggest groups that faced discrimination in the war. During the war, both groups led numerous strikes and created many organizations to help create equal rights. After or during the war, African Americans and women both achieved some goals they set. A right African Americans gained was the Fair Employment Practices Commission(FEPC). Also African American males were working towards citizenship. They planned on joining the military to try to get this citizenship. Women tended to do more strikes and protests. A successful strike women had, was the strike of 1918. In this strike …show more content…
Since they faced so much discrimination, they had numerous strikes, some of which helped and some of which did nothing. These strikes were noticed by many people, including the president. However, nobody was doing anything to help stop this discrimination. One of the strikes they organized was in spring of 1941. 150,000 African Americans marched on Washington to protest discrimination in defense industries. Roosevelt, who was embarrassed and concerned, issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination in defense industries and creating the Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC). Another event that eventually lead to change was the incident on July 2, 1917, in East St. Louis. Tensions between black and white workers lead to a four-day riot that left 125 black residents dead. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) responded by holding a Silent Protest Parade with 8,000 people marching in New York City on July 28, 1917. World War 1 was an eye-opener for the black community to try to gain equal rights and change. With their efforts in the war and the many strikes and protests they had, it eventually lead to