Ww2 African American Experience Essay

Overall, World War II (WWII) was an era full of hardships. The first example that proves why WWII was an era full of hardships was the African American experience. “[African Americans]...faced many hardships, beginning with their segregation in training camps. They ate in separate mess halls from the white troops and slept in separate barracks. Camps that had a single movie theater even made black trainees sit together in the last row” (Goff 458). Before the war, racial prejudice and the exclusion of black Americans was a constant, but it quickly escalated in 1941, due to widespread racism and war hysteria (Danzer 564). Segregated sanctions in the military resulted in feelings of anger and betrayal displayed by the African American community because even after risking their lives for the country, they were clearly still viewed as inferior (Danzer 592-593).

The second example that proves that why WWII was an era full of hardships was the female experience. “At first, war industries feared that most women lacked the necessary stamina for factory work and were reluctant to hire them...women earned only about 60 percent as much as men doing the same jobs” (Danzer 565). Before the war, only a minority of women held occupations, of which were traditionally female like, sales and clerical work (Goff 456). Despite fulfilling the exact jobs and enduring just as much effort as men, women’s contribution to the workforce was still hindered after WWII, as they were paid less, despite doing the same jobs as men. (Danzer 592). When the war ended, men returned home for their jobs and the women occupying them were pushed out (Danzer 592). Recognition for their contribution was noted, but the female image was still far from being viewed as equal to men in the workforce, and especially combat (Danzer 592). The female experience proves that WWII was an era of