Course(s)
Subject(s)
Lesson Abstract
Essential Question: How did Black GIs respond to Jim Crow in U.S. Armed Forces during World War II?
Secondary materials (book, article, video documentary, etc.) needed
Further Information:
- Guglielmo, Thomas A. “A Martial Freedom Movement: Black G.I.s’ Political Struggles during World
War II” Journal of American History (March 2018): 879-903.
- Guglielmo, Thomas A. Divisions: A New History of Racism and Resistance in America’s World War
II Military. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021.
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- In particular look at Chapter 6, “Jim Crow in Uniform”.
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Fully describe the activity or assignment in detail. What will both the teacher and the students do?
1- Provide background on Jim Crow in U.S. Armed Forces during WWII.
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- Suggested resources from YouTube:
- “Segregation of the U.S. Army in World War II” (watch from 00:42-04:09) OR
- World War II: Crash Course Black History #31 (watch from 01:03-09:23)
- Suggested resources from YouTube:
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2- Brainstorm ways Black GIs could have responded and obstacles they may have faced in
trying to respond.
- As a whole class, in small groups, or Think-Pair-Share.
3- Read/discuss three examples of how Blacks responded. This can be done in small groups
then share out to the whole class or through a jigsaw format.
- John Hope Franklin – excerpt from “Their War and Mine” in The Journal of American History, September 1990. I suggest just the first 2+ pages (pp.576-578) stopping after the sentence “By this time I had concluded that the United States did not need
me and did not deserve me.”
- “The Story of Winfred Lynn” pamphlet
- “The Freeman Field Mutiny” from the World War II Museum