Segregated Units and why it is Detrimental to the United States Army

During the World War I and even before that, the United State military was segregated according to the race. The Black units were usually poorly armed. This racial strategy continued even into the World War II. African American frontrunners at the moment pointed to the inconsistency of a state fighting Nazi racism whilst having experiencing segregated military. Also, African-American military posted in Europe experienced the racially assimilated British armed armies. It was not rare for African-American forces to be bowed away from; mostly white, officer’s maces by American MP’s, whilst their Black British friends can only walk in without problems.

Morris & MacGregor, (1990) highlights that the segregation in the United States armed militaries represented the widespread racial segregation performs in the US in whole, particular concerning African-Americans and particularly in the Southern. Majority of African Americans at this moment lived a life of the second class inhabitants. They had to appear inferior and separate schools, were not allowed from several white-only developments and in several places, African-Americans were hindered from casting votes. Lynching was ordinary place throughout the Southern and racist statesmen and the Klux Ku Klan intimidated African-Americans who tried to demand their rights. As that, the military’s segregation strategies were simply an expansion of a racist truth in United State society at that period (Morris & MacGregor, 1990).

President Roosevelt firstly did nothing to terminate the strategy of racial segregation in the military forces. He as well did not publicly reinforce civil rights for the African-Americans during his first years of his authority. He was cautious not to intimidate conservative Democrats m Southern whose support he required. The Southern Democrats supported this act of segregation in their nations. A system referred to as Jim Crow segregation. President Roosevelt was mute on the matter till the late years of the 1930s while his better half, Eleanor Roosevelt stated to express in the reinforcement of the African-Americans.

Whilst the British involved in war besides Hitler, soldiers of entire races from Commonwealth brawled alongside one other. This did not represent the situation in the United States that apartheid policy was not any different from what was found inside South Africa subsequent of the war. This was mainly the situation with the aviation. Preceding to Pearl Harbour, several senior US consultants really trusted that the Japanese could not be able to fly perfectly because of their slitty eyes

In the early 1930s, the United State military was an ethnically segregated organization reflecting the de facto and legal segregation in large of the US. In the military, African-American armies were given mandates in all-black divisions. In no situations that white gents ordered by an African-American officer. This was notwithstanding the data that, African-Americans had valiantly served in the military forces even afore of the American Revolutions. They had brawled alongside the colonists in the Independence War; African-American divisions had renowned themselves in the Warfare between the United States, and individuals African-Americans had proved aces in times of the First World War and the famous Spanish Civil War. Single ace, Eugene Bullard wrestled with French Foreign Legion in times of the First World War since the U.S. Air Corps could not allow him to fly.

Morris & MacGregor, (1990) informs us that, the U.S. military Air Corps hawked with the reality of American segregation by declining to recognize African-Americans into its own ranks at its entirety rather than make separate divisions or facilities. The forces also did not face the matter of African-American majors perhaps authoritarian white recruited men, which may have taken place since Army Air forces aviators were all majors. So in the year 1939, when the US was speeding up to fight one more world war, there existed only one hundred and twenty-five licensed African-American aviators in the entire country. This is because they did not have the chance to learn how to fly in the private and military flying teachings were quite expensive for the majority to afford (Morris & MacGregor, 1990).

The Air forces refusal to let African-Americans to juncture its ranks completed on 1940, when the Warfare Department at the influence of President Franklin Roosevelt. It wished to assure the provision of African-Americans in the following presidential elections. He delivered a statement stating that Negroes would be given aviation teachings as pilots, technical and mechanics specialists. In the year 1940, African-Americans residing in the northerly parts of the United States would vote. Only scarce African-Americans residing in the southern state voted before the passage of civil rights regulation in the 1960s. This did not imply that African-Americans could be trained similarly as the white airmen. Somewhat, the Air Corps made an Aviation separate unit and, in most situations allocated its men the majority degrading and menial tasks.

In the year 1941 although at the influence of the African-American media and with the reinforcement of the Roosevelt authority, a segregated fighter division with channels for 429 recruited men and 47 aviators was proclaimed. The pilots could originate from the isolated Program of Civilian Pilot Training and be provided with skills at the Alabama Tuskegee Institute. In the year 1941, thirteen students and among them Captain Benjamin O, Davis of West Point graduate, Jr., who was the son of the first African-American brigadier major were inaugurated into the platform. During the subsequent four years, the Tuskegee training Centre trained a thousand armed pilots (Herbert, 1987).

After graduation in 1942, the pilots, labeled the Tuskegee Airman to become the 99^th Fighter Regiment with newly endorsed Colonel Davis in the facility. The division was forced to pause for one year for depositions since no white commander desired to accept the division into his processes. Finally, Airmen were committed to the Tactical Air Force, 33^rd Fighter Group and were sent to the North Africa. On the horde ship to Africa, his major Colonel Davis was positioned in charge of entire the troops on the transport ship. Because the transport ship also contained white troops, this made the very first time where an African-American officer had instructed white soldiers.

It is worth noting that the American army was the first to allow the blacks serve in their military. The army expected to have great achievements after the segregation. The army contained units of Blacks or Negros since the Civil war was fought. Throughout the Indian wars, the US army had the ninth and tenth units where Blacks outfits with the white officers as seniors. During the First World War, the black Troops existed and with Commander General Pershing as their leader. In his biography, Commander General Pershing points out that Blacks were perfect soldiers who did not hurt his career. The segregated units in the First World War allowed the Black soldiers fight with the French, and this made the French respect the Blacks. The segregation earned respect to the Blacks as strong people and removed the stereotype that Blacks are more of apes. This is because they fought fearlessly and killed many whites. Additionally, it increased confidence among the blacks as they saw the whites in another perspective. They started perceiving the whites as people and not as gods as they did before. The whites could cry out of pain and die just like any other human being (Herbert, 1987).

Segregation units in United States army increased victory in the wars. Initially, the other militaries did not have Blacks in their forces. They had a perception that Blacks are inferior and cannot fight as whites. In this case, they faced them carelessly not knowing the soldiers in them. This gave the US army men a golden chance to finish others and emerge victorious in many wars. 2^nd June 1943 witnessed the Air force having their first incursion when lieutenants William Campbell and Charles Hall went for a mission in Italy, an island known as Pantelleria. During this time, it was rare to have sight the enemy aircraft. In fact, the 99^th only achieved victory when Lieutenant Hall downed Focke-Wulf FW 109, a German on 2^nd July. Allied army officials General Eisenhower Dwight, Lieutenant General Carl and Major General Doolittle Jimmy paid a visit to offer their felicitations. At this time, all home newspapers including those in the Deep South announced the victory of the Tuskegee military. Herbert A., (1987) is the view that, in the First World War, the US Army put Blacks in separate units. The blacks served in all branches including soldiers, stewards and cooks among others. The army aimed at putting the Blacks in separate units but exercise equality. However, this could not be achieved since the treatment was practically unequal. They used different bused, bathrooms, toilets, churches and drinking fountains among other utilities. This was not the best treatment taking into consideration that they all went to the same battle. During the Second World War, the segregation continued in all units according to the soldiers’ race. The white units had white soldier and blacks were not allowed enter. On the other hand, the black units consisted of Blacks with White commanders controlling what the Blacks were doing. The Korean War witnessed the beginning of the end of the racial segregation in US army. During the Second World War, the US military consisted of American Indians who were also segregated. The American Indians came from different tribes and were not allowed to mix with whites in their units (Herbert, 1987).

After the big battle, the end was nearing with many achievements and some failures. Over 1,500 sorties were achieved, and many kills counted. As the war ended, the Tuskegee and Black army men had to return to America. Unfortunately, the segregation that they had left still dominated the army. They disliked the segregation considering that they fought the same battle with the whites and carried the same weapons. They termed the segregation as discrimination and inhuman. This led to the campaign for desegregation in America. The veterans did not only fight for the desegregation in the army but also for civilians. They offered encouragement and pride to their community and tribe. This increased nationality and fight for equality among the other races. Additionally, the leaders campaigned for equality of all men. They claimed that they were all equal since they were all equal in the battle filed. The fight bore fruits and by April 1948, the Air force was desegregated. However, the rest of the state took longer to desegregate (Morris & MacGregor, 1990).

In conclusion, segregation units in US Army dates back to the Civil War in America. Both sides required Black troops to boost their men. Originally, the troops did not want the Blacks to be trained as soldiers. Therefore, the Blacks build camps and roads as well as other manual work to assist the American troops. Over time, the Blacks were allowed to fight and carry weapons as the whites. However, they remained in their own units and were commanded by a white. This segregation favored the US troops as it increased their winning chances. It also did the Blacks a favor as they gained pride and encouraged their communities to fight for equality. In fact, this segregation is the founder of the Human Rights Movement and the end of racial discrimination in the universe.