African American Experience During World War II

“Poor is the nation that has no heroes, but poorer still is the nation that having heroes, fails to remember and honor them.”  ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

Edward Brownlee has provided a historical perspective on the African American experience during World War II. In his book titled “African American Experience During World War II”, he sheds light on the experiences of the 1.2 million African American service members who served in a segregated U.S. military and faced significant challenges.

Here are some key points from the book:

“It was common during World War II for the U.S. Army to treat German Prisoners of War better than African American men and women soldiers.”

  1. Segregation and Discrimination: African Americans served in every military branch, including the Army, Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps. Despite their service, they encountered segregation, menial tasks, inferior training, and limited opportunities to serve in combat units. Racism persisted even as they fought for liberty and freedom abroad.
  2. Two Fronts: African American soldiers battled on two fronts—abroad in the fight against tyranny and at home against hypocrisy and racial prejudice. They played crucial roles in significant events such as D-Day, the Pacific theater, and the Battle of the Bulge.
  3. Denied Rights: While fighting for the four freedoms championed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, African Americans were denied equal opportunity and basic civil rights within their own country.

Edward Brownlee’s work aims to ensure that this essential part of history is not overlooked. It highlights the resilience, courage, and sacrifices of African American service members during World War II.

“Why should I shed my blood for Roosevelt’s America, for Cotton Ed Smith and Senator Bilbo, for the whole Jim Crow, negro-hating South, for the low-paid, dirty jobs for which negroes have to fight, for the few dollars of relief and the insults, discrimination, police brutality, and perpetual poverty to which negroes are condemned even in the more liberal North?” ~ C.L.R. James

The book is available on Kindle and provides a compelling account of their experiences 1. Additionally, you can explore more about Edward Brownlee’s books on his website 2.