African Americans in World War I

Fifty years after the end of the Civil War, the nation’s 9.8 million African Americans held a tenuous place in society. Ninety percent of African Americans lived in the South, most trapped in low-wage occupations, their daily lives shaped by restrictive â€Å"Jim Crow† laws and threats of violence. But the start of World War I in the summer of 1914 opened up new opportunities and changed American life and culture forever. â€Å"Recognizing the the significance of World War I is essential to developing a full understanding of modern African-American history and the struggle for black freedom,† argues Chad Williams, Associate Professor of African Studies at Brandeis University.      The Great Migration While the United States wouldn’t enter the conflict until 1917, the war in Europe stimulated the U.S. economy almost from the start, setting off a 44-month long period of growth, particularly in manufacturing. At the same time, immigration from Europe fell sharply, reducing the white labor pool. Combined with a boll weevil infestation that devoured millions of dollars worth of cotton crops in 1915 and other factors, thousands of African Americans across the South decided to head North. This was the start of the â€Å"Great Migration,† of more than 7 million African-Americans over the next half-century. During the World War I period, an estimated 500,000 African Americans moved out of the South, most of them heading for the cities. Between 1910-1920, the African American population of New York City grew 66%; Chicago, 148%; Philadelphia, 500%; and Detroit, 611%. As in the South, they faced discrimination and segregation in both jobs and housing in their new homes. Women, in particular, were largely relegated to the same work as domestics and childcare workers as they had at home. In some cases, tension between whites and the newcomers turned violent, as in the deadly East St Louis riots of 1917. Close Ranks African American public opinion on America’s role in the war mirrored that of white Americans: first they didn’t want to get involved in a European conflict, the quickly changing course in late 1916. When President Woodrow Wilson stood before Congress to ask for a formal declaration of war on April 2, 1917, his assertion that the world â€Å"must be made safe for democracy† resonated with African American communities as an opportunity to fight for their civil rights within the U.S. as part of a broader crusade to secure democracy for Europe. â€Å"Let us have a real democracy for the United States,† said an editorial in the Baltimore Afro-American, â€Å"and then we can advise a house-cleaning on the other side of the water.†    Some African American newspapers held that blacks shouldn’t participate in the war effort because of rampant American inequality. On the other end of the spectrum, W.E.B. DuBois wrote a powerful editorial for the NAACP’s paper, The Crisis. â€Å"Let us not hesitate. Let us, while this war lasts, forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our own white fellow citizens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy.†    Over There Most young African American men were ready and willing to prove their patriotism and their mettle. Over 1 million registered for the draft, of which 370,000 were selected for service, and more than 200,000 were shipped off to Europe. From the beginning, there were disparities in how African American servicemen were treated. They were drafted at a higher percentage. In 1917, local draft boards inducted 52% of black candidates and 32% of white candidates. Despite a push by African American leaders for integrated units, black troops remained segregated, and the vast majority of these new soldiers were used for support and labor, rather than combat. While many young soldiers were probably disappointed to spend the war as truck drivers, stevedores, and laborers, their work was vital to the American effort. The War Department did agree to train 1,200 black officers at a special camp in Des Moines, Iowa and a total of 1,350 African American officers were commissioned during the War. In the face of public pressure, the Army created two all-black combat units, the 92nd and 93rd Divisions. The 92nd Division became mired in a racial politics and other white divisions spread rumors that damaged its reputation and limited its opportunities to fight. The 93rd, however, was put under French control and didn’t suffer the same indignities. They performed well on the battlefields, with the 369th—dubbed the â€Å"Harlem Hellfighters†Ã¢â‚¬â€ winning praise for their fierce resistance to the enemy.    African American troops fought at Champagne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Belleau Woods, Chateau-Thierry, and other major operations. The 92nd and 93rd sustained over 5,000 casualties, including 1,000 soldiers killed in action. The 93rd included two Medal of Honor recipients, 75 Distinguished Service crosses, and 527 French â€Å"Croix du Guerre† medals. Red Summer If African American soldiers expected white gratitude for their service, they were quickly disappointed. Combined with labor unrest and paranoia over Russian-style â€Å"Bolshevism,† the fear that black soldiers had been â€Å"radicalized† overseas contributed to the bloody â€Å"Red Summer† of 1919. Deadly race riots broke out in 26 cities across the country, killing hundred. At least 88 black men were lynched in 1919—11 of them newly-returned soldiers., some still in uniform. But World War I also inspired fresh resolve among African Americans to keeping working towards a racially-inclusive America that truly lived up to its claim to be the light of Democracy in the modern world. A new generation of leaders was born from the ideas and principles of their urban peers and exposure to France’s more equal view of race, and their work would help lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights movement later in the 20th Century.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Once Said That “Man’S Mind, Once

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that â€Å"Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.† When I first heard this quote on the 29th of August, 2016, I wondered why Mrs. Robinson said this was our â€Å"essential question† of the year, now I understand. In class I learned how to dissect and analyze quotes well enough to the point that I can associate three different sources with each other and find a common theme. Through reading East of Eden by John Steinbeck, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and watching the video Waking Life, a common theme is recognized, alienation. Whether it be from family or society, they are all displaying, alienation as a common theme within the characters, and today alienation is†¦show more content†¦Following that idea, it later states in the book, â€Å"Abra, my mother is a whore.’ ‘I know. You told me. My father is a thief.’ ‘I’ve got her blood, Ab ra. Don’t you understand?’ ‘I’ve got his.’ she said†(Steinbeck, 596). When Cal says â€Å"My mother is a whore. I’ve got her blood,† Cal reveals that he is ashamed of his mother by calling her a â€Å"whore† and is ashamed of his heritage when he says â€Å"I’ve got her blood,† so he isolated himself due to the fact that he is ashamed of his mother and feels as if he is alone. Abra then says â€Å" I know. You told me. My father is a thief,† and â€Å"I’ve got his (blood),† to display that Cal is not alone in being ashamed of parentage and afraid of one’s parents’ sins will taint them. Overall, Cal similar some children today isolate themselves because of parental issues such as favoritism and preference, and embarrassment of their parents life and choices. Next, in Crime and Punishment, the main character Raskolnikov alienates himself before and after he murders the old pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna and her sister Lizaveta Ivanovna. Before the murder, the book, states â€Å"(Raskolnikov) kept aloof from everyone†¦ he was very poor, and there was sort of a haughty pride and reserve about him†¦ he seemed to look down upon(his comrades) as children, as though he was superior in development, knowledge, and convictions, as thoughShow MoreRelatedOne Of The Most Valued Amendments Written In The U.S. Constitution1463 Words   |  6 Pagessafety of their students (Darden). Colleges should restrict hateful speech on campus regardless of what rights are written in the United States Constitution, in order to protect students from being mistreated. Students have the right to speak their minds on school grounds, but when they are wrongfully speaking down on others a line must be drawn. Americans may state that freedom of speech allows people to hear new opinions, rather than focusing on their own points of view. 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And my little brother andRead MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 Pagesmanagement from Millikin University, M.B.A. from Indiana University, and doctorate in operations management from the College of Business, University of Oregon. He is certified Scrum Master. v â€Å"Man’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.† Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. To my family who have always encircled me with love and encouragement—my parents (Samuel and Charlotte), my wife (Mary), my sons and their wives (Kevin and Dawn, Robert and Sally) and their children

Death Of A Salesman

Death Of A Salesman- Overview Essay Death of a SalesmanCrazy WillyWilly Loman is one of the most tragic heroes in American drama today. He has a problem differentiating reality from fantasy. No one has a perfect life. Everyone has conflicts that they must face sooner or later. The ways in which people deal with these personal conflicts can differ as much as the people themselves. Some insist on ignoring the problem as long as possible, while some attack the problem to get it out of the way. In the case of Willy in Arthur Millers, Death of a Salesman, the way he deals with his life as a general failure leads to very severe consequences. Willy never really faced his problems in fact in stead of confronting them he just escapes into the past, whether intentionally or not, to those happier childhood times where problems were scarce. He uses this escape as if it were a narcotic, and as the play progresses, we learns that it can be as dangerous as a drug, because of its ability to addict Willy, and its deadliness. Willy is like an impetuous child who uses dilutions to escape his problems. The first time Willy is seen reminiscing is when he encounters Biff after arriving home from work. The conversation between Willy and Linda reflects Willys disappointment in Biff, and what he has become, which is for the most part a bum. , Willy Biff is a lazy bum;. After failing to deal adequately with his feelings, he hallucinates into a time when things were better for his family. It is not uncommon for one to think of better times at low points in their life. This is used as a defense mechanism so that they are able to deal with the problems they encounter, but Willy Loman takes it one step further. His refusal to accept reality is so strong that in his mind he is transported back in time to relive some of the happier days of his life. He gets taken back to a time when no one argued, a time when Willy and Linda were younger, the financial situation was less of a burden, and Biff and Happy enthusiastically welcomed their father back home from a long road trip. Willys need for this drug; is satiated and he is reassured that everything will turn out okay, unfortunately for the Loman family things are not that simple. In many instances in the play Linda actually has to snap; Willy out of it. The next flashback occurs during another discussion between Willy and Linda regarding the payments on the car. Willy is depressed about his inability to make enough money to support his family, his looks, his personality and the success of his friend and neighbor, Charley. My God if business doesnt pick up, I dont know what Im gonna do!;, is the comment made by Willy after Linda figures the difference between the familys income and their expenses. Before Linda has a chance to offer any words of consolation Willy blurts out Im Fat. Im very;#8212;foolish to look at, Linda;. Willy once again has managed to destroy his reality and is starting to come to terms with actual reality. His next dilution is he being visited by a woman with whom he is having an affair. He created this woman in his mind to boost his self esteem although very prevalent to Willy to the action in the play the woman does not exist. She raises his spirits by telling him how funny and loveable he is, saying, You do make me laugh. And I think youre a wonderful man. .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc , .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .postImageUrl , .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc , .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc:hover , .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc:visited , .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc:active { border:0!important; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc:active , .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u18cf6b14f0f0434843f8e096e567e3bc:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Physical Fitness (557 words) Essay;. When in his mind he is reassured of his attractiveness and competence, the woman disappears with a laugh, simultaneous to Lindas laughing at what he said, her purpose being fulfilled. Once again the drug has come to the rescue, postponing Willys eminent collision course with reality. Willys next trip; into the past is when he is fired from his job after requesting to be relocated. This is probably the most serious blow he takes in the entire play, because of his pride in his work. In fact this is such a big hit, that he

Stanley Milgram obedience experiment free essay sample

Stanley Milgram Obedience Experiment One of the most famous studies of obedience in psychology was carried out by  Stanley Milgram (1963).  Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University, conducted an experiment focusing on the conflict between obedience to authority and personal conscience. He examined justifications for acts of genocide offered by those accused at the World War II, Nuremberg War Criminal trials. Their defense often was based on obedience that they were just following orders of their superiors. The experiments began in July 1961, a year after the trial of Adolf Eichmann in Jerusalem. Milgram (1963) wanted to investigate whether Germans were particularly obedient to authority figures as this was a common explanation for the Nazi killings in World War II. Milgram selected participants for his experiment by advertising for male participants to take part in a study of learning at Yale University.   The procedure was that the participant was paired with another person and they drew lots to find o ut who would be the ‘learner’ and who would be the ‘teacher’. The draw was fixed so that the participant was always the teacher, and the learner was one of Milgram’s confederates (pretending to be a real participant). There were a lot of things unethical about this experiment. The main one being that the participants were lied to be about what they were participating in. As a researcher, it was Milgrams job to invent an experiment were his hypothesis could be tested but also were participants would be informed of what they were participating in. This leads to the unethical issue that this experiment caused most of the participant’s extreme distress, which was an indirect result of them being lied to about the experiment. The fact they that also used the Yale campus and the Yale name of the fliers is also unethical since the article stated that Yale had no hand in the experiment, particularly as a safeguard should the experiment go wrong. This just added even more to the participants fake sense of assuredness that the experiment was legitimate and the false sense of security they felt that their psychological well being would be looked after, which is was apparently not from the study We are satisfied that no lasting harm was done to the participants. In our opinion, the Milgram experiments caused no harm, although they did reveal a basic flaw in the way most people respond to authority. The subjects were told that they could stop at any time and the calm orders to continue the experiment they thought they were participating in were merely a prod. They were not bound to a chair and told that they would not be unbound unless they complied. They complied willingly, even if against what their own conscience may have been telling them. Had there been someone actually wired up to receive voltage though That would definitely have carried it into the territory of harm. It’s fair to say that the debriefing at the end of the experiment eliminated both long and short-term problems. Participants were debriefed after the experiment and showed much relief at finding they had not harmed the student. One cried from emotion when he saw the student alive, and explained that he thought he had killed him. To Milgrams credit, he took pains to make sure his subjects suffered no lasting harm. Milgram did  debrief  his subjects. In other words, he revealed the true nature of the experiment. He also arranged a reconciliation with the learner as soon as the experiment was over, asking the confederate who played the role to come into the room and shake hands with the teacher before the teacher left. categories:Milgram also asked the subjects after debriefing whether they were very glad, glad, neither sorry nor glad, sorry, or very sorry to have participated. He found less than 2% in any group said they were sorry or very sorry. In fact, the subjects who had been most obedient, going all the way to the top of the shock scale, were most likely to say they were very glad to have participated in the experiment. Milgram explained to them everything that they needed to know so that no long or short-term effects would occur. Ordinary people, simply doing their jobs, and without any particular hostility on their part, can become agents in a terrible destructive process. Moreover, even when the destructive effects of their work become patently clear, and they are asked to carry out actions incompatible with fundamental standards of morality, relatively few people have the resources needed to resist authority (Milgram, 1964). Many of the experimenters were still confused on exactly what happened in the experiment. The short term effects would be that some of the people, might still be shaken up, experiencing nervousness and sometimes confusion from being reminded of the experiment. Was this experiment justified? To many no  ethics plays a major part in this experiment. Even though the participants were inform, how can you sit back and watch a person go crazy or have seizures off what you are doing to them. Had Stanley Milgram’s study been done before or during World War II, the Nazi’s would have definitely used this information to their defense. They would have used this as an excuse for their wretched behavior, even though their actions were completely inexcusable. The results from this experiment definitely removed responsibility from the individual. The Nazis’ could say that they were simply â€Å"following orders†. This could potentially be an example of institutional authority. Institutional authority is following orders or instructions from a higher power or group. They may lack in personal responsibility because they could blame the person for their actions by saying â€Å"they told me to†. The money was responsible for the findings. It influenced the participants to do what they were told. The money helped the participants to put their morals to the side even if what they thought they were doing was wrong. It was the drive that was pushing them to do the experiment. Nonetheless, paying someone doesn’t changes the dynamics of the situation. Throughout the experiment there was little said about money. It was more focused on the factor obedience played in the experiment. The article talked about the tension the subjects felt when being obedient and how relieved they felt when it was over. The subjects probably werent thinking about the money. Being paid is most likely what got people to sign up but their willingness to obey is what made them stay. Ordinary people are likely to follow orders given by an authority figure, even to the extent of killing an innocent human being.   Obedience to authority is ingrained in us all from the way we are brought up. Obey parents, teachers, anyone in authority etc.