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African Americans In Ww2

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African Americans In Ww2
As the United States entered the Second World War, migration to California increased because of the wartime boom, bringing an influx of outsiders to the state. However, as these newcomers came to the state, they were not always welcomed with open arms, specifically African-Americans, and Mexicans. The new wartime industries, such as the aerospace and shipping industries needed a temporary workforce as many Californians left to join the war (Textbook, 482-483). The state’s new workforce was incredibly diverse, which included African- Americans who came from the North and South (Erik Lecture, 2/22). Employment opportunities that were previously unavailable to African-Americans were suddenly open. Many had the opportunity to go to school and train for jobs in aircraft manufacturing industries (Amanda …show more content…
Naval Port of Chicago. In July of 1944, an explosion in the port of Chicago killed 200 African-American sailors. Fifty black survivors refused to continue working in dangerous loading and unloading of ammunitions because the lack of training. In response, the fifty men were charged with mutiny and faced being court-martialed. On October 1944, despite testimony demonstrating dangerous conditions and the racism of white officers, the men were found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years in prison (Erik Lecture, 2/22). African Americans also faced housing discrimination in various throughout California, forcing them to live in ghetto areas. After the war ended, war production slowed down and many African Americans lost their jobs as war production factories closed (Textbook, 482). Many found themselves out of work and struggling to survive in a very racist time. As the influx of African-Americans came to California, migration to the state did not allow them to grow or even prosper just because of their race. As African-American experienced hostility as they migrated to California, so did many
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