The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow PBS Series
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow series by PBS Learning Media gave me a solid understanding of the roots of racial segregation in the United States. In addition, I learned about the tactics used by White supremacists to enforce segregation and reverse the outcome of the American Civil War. Jim Crow was a gimmick, a simpleton representing negative racial stereotypes about Black Americans (PBS Learning Media, n.d.a). Racists among White Americans wanted to restore the old ways and turn Black Americans into a collective Jim Crow. The perspective of Black people using equal opportunities to integrate into society scared them (PBS Learning Media, n.d.b).
As a result, White resistance to post-Civil War reconstruction tried hard to bring Black Americans down through intimidation, mockery, and legal pressure. For example, the Plessy v. Ferguson landmark Supreme Court ruling allowed the states to effectively introduce segregation regardless of federal legislation (PBS Learning Media, n.d.c). Negrophobia, or depicting Black people as savages who must be kept in check, became rampant in all spheres of American life (PBS Learning Media, n.d.d). Ultimately, the Jim Crow era brought Black Americans through another century of oppression.
How WWI Changed America: African Americans in WWI
Prior to WWI, African Americans mainly lived in the rural South of the United States. These people experienced discrimination and exclusion from political and economic life as the Jim Crow era was at its height (National WWI Museum and Memorial, 2020). However, African Americans demonstrated exceptional loyalty and patriotism during the war, although their home country considered them second-rate citizens.
Many African American women became nurses at the homefront and treated wounded soldiers. Black Americans actively moved to the North to seek employment in military-related industries and buy war bonds. Black women contributed over $250 million to the war effort — a large sum, given their low wages (National WWI Museum and Memorial, 2020). In that regard, WWI gave hope to Black Americans as they saw opportunities to prove their value to the country and demonstrate that they deserved equality.
In particular, Black American men bravely served on the front lines, hoping for better treatment at home for recognition of their patriotism. However, the Jim Crow era affected the U.S. military similarly to how it tainted other aspects of American society. Black soldiers were routinely tasked with dangerous construction works under heavy enemy fire. White Southern officers disrespected Black combat troops, labeling them as incompetent soldiers and malcontent rapists (National WWI Museum and Memorial, 2020).
Back at home, Black veterans were usually met with hostility and aggression. As such, WWI changed little in terms of how American society looked at Black Americans. However, WWI also convinced Black Americans they could be brave and strong. In the WW1 aftermath, African Americans became confident of winning equality through open resistance if necessary.
The Harlem Hellfighters
The Harlem Hellfighters was a regiment of Black American soldiers serving in WWI. When the United States entered WWI, General Pershing made it clear that he would not transfer “proper” American units under foreign command. Pershing sent the Harlem Hellfighters to the French allies as throwaway reinforcements, thus showing his disdain for Black American troops. However, the Hellfighters performed remarkably well and became one of the most decorated American units in WWI.
The French command famously awarded Henry Johnson, one of the Hellfighters, with a Croix de Guerre (War Cross) for single-handedly repelling a German raid on a listening post (HISTORY, 2014). However, such heroism was futile in the Jim Crow era — the U.S. government sent a special memorandum to the French, requesting them not to treat Black troops as equals (HISTORY, 2014). The Harlem Hellfighters’ bravery made the U.S. government scared that Black veterans may demand racial equality once they returned home. Nevertheless, the Hellfighters’ example reassured African Americans that they possessed the courage and resilience to fight against Jim Crow.
References
HISTORY. (2014). The Harlem Hellfighters | History [Video]. YouTube. Web.
National WWI Museum and Memorial. (2020). How WWI changed America: African Americans in WWI [Video]. YouTube. Web.
PBS Learning Media. (n.d.a). The rise and fall of Jim Crow | Who was Jim Crow? [Video]. Web.
PBS Learning Media. (n.d.b). Reconstruction brings white resistance [Video]. Web.
PBS Learning Media. (n.d.c). Plessy vs. Ferguson | The rise and fall of Jim Crow [Video]. Web.
PBS Learning Media. (n.d.d). Rising negrophobia and challenging the lie [Video]. Web.