Comments on: Jeffrey Conger Project 1-1

By: jbaker8

jbaker8 — Thu, 19 May 2016 18:44:19 +0000

I was leaning towards doing this project prompt myself but ended up doing another. I am glad we get to read the other students works and are able to gain a more comprehensive look into the topics and others views on them. I found your post to be fairly informative with mentions of the “Double V” and the FEPC. Its interesting to look at as one comment here says “the irony” of war, how with most wars not including the most recent decade (due to the time-lapse history takes to become history) how race has played a role in our nations fights towards democracy and freedom (especially in WWII and the Cold War rounding the 60’s).
I have yet to see The Negro Soldier, but am looking forward to searching it (at least the speech part mentioned in your post) as it sounds like it speaks volumes of the time and culture of the decade and the people there in.
-I Pledge 160

By: Ckelly5

Ckelly5 — Thu, 19 May 2016 10:44:47 +0000

Personally, I am interested by the idea of the Fair Employment Practice Committee. I wonder how long it would have taken for similar measures to be put in place in order to end discrimination in the workplace if the war had not happened. It’s interesting to see how something that can objectively be seen as bad (war) can have positive ramifications, and also how the effects of wartime desperation for labor can promote equality. I also think we saw something similar in women’s gains in the workplace, minus the propulsion of the economy in an individual community. (I pledge 101)

By: rhasting

rhasting — Wed, 18 May 2016 21:24:59 +0000

I love this post, Jeff. It is thoroughly engaging and informative. For me, as I watched the movie, The Negro Soldier, and as I listened to the pastor give his sermon about the history of the African-American race’s involvement in America’s armed conflicts, you have to “admire” the positive rhetorical spin Frank Capra give his audience. It truly seemed to be a “Wonderful Life.”

However, even before the United States entered the war, our military was a fully segregated force, and by 1941, there were fewer than 4,000 African-Americans serving in uniform. Serving mostly in a non-combat capacity during the war, it was not until 1945 that colored troops would be allowed to see combat.

Given all these facts, through your reference of the “Double V,” and made even more powerful with the reading of Mein Kampf, I am curious to know if anyone will notice the irony of the situation. That these African-American were serving in a segregated army, fighting for a country that often denied them basis equal rights, while fighting against a form of tyranny that sought to eradicate them because they did not fit Hitler’s ideal of a master race. (I Pledge, 194)