African-Americans have endured a long journey in trying to achieve the American dream. Although they were making progress as the civil war and other historic events took place. They were also still stagnated through implementation of segregated laws in American government. For instance, following the attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941, the American army geared up to retaliate starting WWII (Gates, 2013).
African-Americans often found themselves fighting to be recognized as humans and more importantly American citizens. African-Americans viewed the chance to join the army as an opportunity to do something as honorary as fighting for their country (Gates, 2013). While also hoping their efforts would be recognized and would solidify their citizenship (Gates, 2013). However, things didn’t go as planned and the war preparations led to the formation of separated ranks in the army. Which were long influenced by Jim Crow laws and the extensive history of slavery (Gates, 2013). Although, African-Americans were allowed to fight in the war, they did so with having minimal interactions with their white counterparts in order to carry out the mission (Gates, 2013).
Now that the war was in full swing African-Americans realized the war they were fighting was actually hypocritical on behalf of the United States of America government. This was hypocritical because they were essentially fighting on behalf of their allies to ensure equally for those people (Gates, 2013). However, it was insulting and contradicting on behalf of the American government. Who also indulged in the suppression of their own people due to race and other discriminatory factors (Gates, 2013).
In fact, the American government finally allowed African-Americans to be able to enlist in the army, but through segregated ranks which was ironic (Gates, 2013). This same government that allowed for separated ranks to be incorporated due to race. Where also attempting to keep the war efforts united as they were all still fighting for the same cause, equality (Gates, 2013).
This was no shock at the time, because this was considered normal activity within the boarders of America. Segregation was at one point a requirement and even legally outlined in the Constitution (Gates, 2013). When WWII started and even through out, many people of color still had hope that they too could be granted equality (Gates, 2013). Instead, Black men were subjected to roles that were considered less significant in responsibility to the war efforts. They were used as supporting efforts to the war, being assigned as cooks, cleaning crews, and grave digging duty(Gates, 2013). This was also degrading, because African-Americans were again denied their rights to be treated as equals.
This outrageous American history details the misleading representation the media and governement practices in relation to African-Americans. The media and politics intersection on the systemic disadvantages faced by African-Americans have been weak since the creation of American government and colonization. The news media at the time was widely supported by news paper outlets and a slight range of televised news stations. Their reporting and position on the issues didn’t seek to bring awareness to mistreatment of African-Americans. Instead, they simply reported the information so that is was common knowledge to Americans on how the average African-American was a burden on society. The media again failed at providing a public forum to allow debate and scrutiny of the governments actions.
Gates, H., Jr. (2013, September 19). Segregation in the Armed Forces During World War II. Retrieved April 23, 2019, from https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-was-black-americas-double-war/
Politics 