How WWI Changed America: African Americans in WWI

African Americans made substantial contributions in WWI, on both the front lines and the homefront. By 1920, nearly one million Black Americans left the rural South in a movement called The Great Migration which would transform the economic, social and political landscape of the U.S.
This video is made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and is a partnership of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, the Doughboy Foundation and the National WWI Museum and Memorial as part of the teaching and learning resources of “How WWI Changed America.”
View all the resources from “How WWI Changed America” at wwichangedus.org
Have questions? Email us at [e-mail] and for more information about the National WWI Museum and Memorial visit theworldwar.org

[@crimsonking4151]

Never EVERY and I mean NEVER question the patriotism of the African American Man 💪🏾

[@andrewvanhellstring6672]

Fax

[@Demonetization_Symbol]

And African American women too, I hope.

[@slugoo6474]

American people in general

[@kwameteif9562]

Daum you aint wrong

[@Rich-yn6eo]

Very true this is ours as well!

[@wannellalawson4001]

Thank your for doing this video. My dad was in World War 1. Mr. Simmons mentioned in video about how black troops were divided. My dad was in labor group.His troops were the first one there and last one to leave. They had to buried dead bodies. Afterward they had to plant trees. Once in awhile they needed someone to work with horses. They called my dad because he was good with horses. He wanted to do more but since he was black. It was no moving up in rank. When he returned to states he refused wear his uniform. Because they were hanging black soldiers in their uniform. He did not want tk about the military experience because changes he went thru.

[@carlbowles1808]

My black father served in the pacific in world war two. When he wasn't being shot at and bombed by japanese he fought whites. Despite it all he never regretted and was proud of his service to a country who looked down on him. Today we have it better, black generals and admirals are in charge. My father is the biggest endorser of the american dream I know, because he and others like him paid the price of progress.

[@wannellalawson4001]

@@carlbowles1808 My black dad wanted to remain in the military but they told him no. When my dad returned to states dad and his military friends refused to wear their uniforms. They were hanging blacks in their uniforms. They were out there protecting our country. Dad returned to his home. His farm had been sold. He gave up farm life. He had to wk odd jobs with 8 kids dealing with racist. It was hard work but he finally got a decent paying job. We all want american dreams just lk our dads did. This is 2020. There are still problems with racist in military. I know because I have some brothers and relatives that were in military. They had tk about racist in military included my dad

[@millennium677]

ww1 and ww2 were predominately white wars, it was an African American unit that saw the most action of any American unit in ww1 but it was still very limited it was Australia that won ww1 America had very little participation and ww2 was won mainly by the Soviets America again had limited participation and the war could have been won without America.

[@garynelson9538]

My Afro American Grandfather fought in WW1 with the Army and my Father fought in WW2 in the Air Corps. I served as a Marine from 83-90. I salute all who served but especially the Afro Americans, because they fought and served for the IDEAL of what America is, while knowing in their(our) lifetime, that ideal will probably NOT come to pass. That is Patriotism at it's BEST!! RIP the Marines from2/3.

[@CJ87317]

Australia didn't "win" the war - neither did the USA, or France, or Britain, or Canada, or anyone else. It was a total team effort and all were crucial. In WWII, once more all the Allies were crucial. The Soviets weren't likely to win without the British and Americans bombing the hell out of Germany, or without the massive aid given to them by Lend Lease.

[@minky7252]

I’m Native American and my great uncle had to lie about his heritage to be a soldier in the Spanish American War. This is a good report. Much appreciated

[@germaniatv1870]

The German language declared as a war-crime... sounds like the Germans didnt lose their cool for nothing in 1939. Looks like a 30 year Manhunt for Germans.

[@Whitpusmc]

I’m glad this historical information is available to the next generation. It shows how bad it was, and how far we have come.

[@jobrien8974]

What gets under my skin is how all people of color get labeled with the term African American. People of color may look somewhat similar, however, they are indigenous to all the Continents and many Islands on the planet. Not just Africa. This is a fact, yet it gets ignored on a constant basis. Although, many so called black people are okay with the term, many are not.

[@1anre]

Need to see the full-length film of this documentary. The only video game that I've seen that ever talked about the Harlem Hellfighters, is the "Enlisted" one. Was so impressed when I saw that the developers decided to include such an outstanding unit in the game for players to experience.

[@germaniatv1870]

Black US-Americans fighting for the King of England, against Germany. Thats so strange. Whyt did the Germans do to them?`..

[@hydrolifetech7911]

​@@germaniatv1870you are either mistaken or just plain misrepresenting the reasons African-Americans and Americans in general fought against Germany. Germans wanted to restart their attacks on shipping between the US and UK which the US has expressly told Germany would be an act of war. To keep Americans busy so that they can resume attacking Trans-Atlantic shipping, they secretly asked Mexico to attack the US. Americans discovered Germany's schemes against their nation and declared war on German Empire. But I bet you aren't interested in facts because your comment was motivated by German nationalism. How do you feel about your backside handed to you back to back in WWI and WWII?

[@MajorDenisBloodnok]

When the American army "gave" their black troops to the French army, they told to the French not being to nice with the blacks, and above all not treating them as equals as French troops... The Americans were afraid that the black Americans would came back with "bad" habits and ideas...

[@chriswilliams7504]

Needs to be a movie about this! A POSITIVE Movie!

[@BeefCake1012]

There needs to be major length film about the Harlem Hellfighters of WWI. They fought, served and died for a nation that treated them like they were still slaves. Many black soldiers returned home only to be lynched in their uniforms because the sight of a black soldier to many whites (particularly in the south) conveyed a threat against their white supremacy power structure. This is a horrible stain on our history and must be righted by highlighting the accomplishments of these brave men protecting a country that didn’t love them back or respect their great sacrifices. 🇺🇸🫡

[@fredjohnson688]

Thank you sir for the truth again it's coming out everywhere!

[@michaele.nicholson6671]

Amen my friend.🙏

[@73sark]

Facts...

[@Cakeb00y4]

Happy Black History Month🤎✊

[@spartan04801]

Good info here

[@shawnmendrek3544]

Thank you.

[@martincook318]

Speaking as a White British Man I'm shocked by the way the Black American Army Men were treated as in My view they were treated as fourth class Citizens and didn't anyone in 1917 tell the American army that the Civil war was over and that Slavery was abolished

[@zondrus9346]

Slavery was abolished but unfortunately there were some sneaky tactics by some states to keep them suppressed.

[@CarlosGonzalez-vu1ew]

@@zondrus9346 correct! It was codified under “Jim Crow” laws. 🙏👍🏾

[@CarlosGonzalez-vu1ew]

Not only black soldiers , but Hispanic (specifically Puerto Ricans) service members who were black or brown were grouped into African American units. I can’t imagine how those service members felt, loving their country and wanting to serve, to be treated like that up til the Vietnam War.

[@Gentlemen-bt3ru]

@@CarlosGonzalez-vu1ew no only black stop putting your people with ours at that time blacks was second race in the USA not Hispanics

[@christinamercer1831]

They will never be forgotten thank you all for your service😢

[@mohammadjaber5357]

Wow

[@ogcjm2440]

All we know is to fight been fighting since. The birth

[@neddyladdy]

First ground combat hero. Is that a particularly US thing? It seems incredible that the first ground combat hero of he war was not noted until then.

[@markcrawford4239]

My great grandpa served in ww1 now understand what he experienced as a blk man

[@evancourtney7746]

@3:30 "less respect for" WHAT??? 'Black* Jack' Pershing, who charged up San Juan Hill with his 10th Cavalry in 1898; the original Buffalo Soldiers! Gen. John Pershing who was the principal proponent of black combat soldiers in the U.S. Army! Pershing knew exactly the capabilities of the men he chopped to French command and he wanted America to know it too! But, he also understood that integrating those units into the American order of battle would be politically and culturally difficult but worse still, time consuming; so he relaxed his insistence that US forces fight as a unified command under US command and control and sent his black combat troops to the French where they would demonstrate their mettle quickly. Dr. Capozzola, I think you need to better familiarize yourself with the career of Gen. Pershing. *his peers didn't actually call him 'Black Jack' but something similar, and he never objected to the nickname.

[@AnuzMightaLostIt]

Cool beans

[@AnuzMightaLostIt]

Thanks for the comment man

[@viniciuslourenza6665]

Coporal frediee stowers medal of honor 1991

[@alimsylla5367]

Imagine African Americans and colonized black Africans fighting side by side for France.

[@MP-sd4in]

I wonder if that ever happened

[@EthNet34756]

AMONG US

[@kyujimemes6666]

SUS 😳🥵😩👹🥵😈🥵😳😳🤡👍🏼😴😳👿😳🥵

[@quadimage9936]

🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿🕺🏿

[@spodermanu2726]

Why are you on every vid

[@OliverNorth9729]

They served under the french not the U.S.

[@jessicam.4777]

Yes, due to racism..correct?

[@mrquestion8398]

And we are still treated like dirt in America. question when do WE get to stop proving OURSELVES to America to get respected like everyone else some of whom haven't done half of what we've done and CONTINUE to do in america

[@marcuscanady7647]

I don’t know but that day hasn’t come yet. Until then we must continue to display Black excellence and create Black prosperity.

[@patmccormick9972]

Our country's greatest waste.

[@malcomshaw5962]

It's in a vaccine today 🕵️