America&#x27;s Black Warriors

America's Black Warriors

Your Playlist:

Description

From the Revolutionary War to the Spanish-American War, black soldiers had fought under the Stars and Stripes. During the early decades of the 20th century, however, racism in the military saw them relegated to noncombat roles as their commanders grew to believe that black soldiers were unfit to fight. It was not until the demands of World War II necessitated the deployment of black soldiers on the battlefield that the ignorance and shortsightedness of those who had conspired to keep them out of the firing line became apparent. In this A&E Special, black World War II veterans speak with brutal honesty about the prejudice they encountered and the battles they fought. The program also illustrates how the advances made in the Second World War paved the way for the armed forces to become a model of successful integration for the rest of America.