On parade, the 41st Engineers at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, in color guard ceremony.
(Image: National Archives and Records Administration, 535822.)
During WWII, approximately 1.2M African Americans served—including 6.5K in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS). African American soldiers used the Double V Campaign to fight for civil rights and social justice.
Even while serving during World War II, the African American soldiers had civil rights at the back of their minds. WIth the Doube V Campaign, they sought to not only fight for victory against aggression, slavery, and tyranny but also for the double victory for African Americans fighting for freedom overseas and at home.
It highlighted the sacrifices by black soldiers who fought for America overseas yet get treated as second-class citizens at home. The campaign became a vital tool to fight for democracy and equal rights for African Americans.
During #WWII, approximately 1.2M African Americans served—including 6.5K in the Women’s Army Corps (WACS). The Double V (for victory) campaign fought for freedom overseas and at home, for African Americans who were still denied equal citizenship. #VeteransDay #APeoplesJourney pic.twitter.com/1abdCkQtOZ
— Smithsonian NMAAHC (@NMAAHC) November 11, 2018
