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African-American Soldiers in World War I: PART 2

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The historian Eric Hobsbawm calls the 20th Century an

"Age of Extremes.”

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Learning Intentions based on Standards

B.12.18 Explain the history of slavery, racial and ethnic discrimination, and efforts to eliminate discrimination in the United States and elsewhere in the world

B.12.2 Analyze primary and secondary sources related to a historical question to evaluate their relevance, make comparisons, integrate new information with prior knowledge, and come to a reasoned conclusion

B.12.15 Identify a historical or contemporary event in which a person was forced to take an ethical position, such as a decision to go to war, the impeachment of a president, or a presidential pardon, and explain the issues involved

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Learning Intentions based on Common Core Standards

1.Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.

2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate

summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and idea.

7. Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem)

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Essential Questions: What were race relations like during

and after World War I?

How did African Americans feel about joining the military?

What was the role of African American Soldiers in World War I?

Did African Americans bridge racial tensions through military service?

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Premise: African Americans During World

War IBackground Article:

http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/articles/fightingforrespect.aspx

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Andrew JohnsonI did my bit for Democracy

WWI Soldier’s InterviewAndrew Johnson was an African-

American veteran interviewed in 1938. In the excerpt below, from the Library of Congress' American Life Histories, 1936-1940, he describes some of his experiences serving in the military. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/

wpa:@field(DOCID+@lit(wpa221070510))

http://armyhistoryjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shuffer-group.jpg

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BLACK YANKEE:An Interview with

Thomas Davis, First World War Veteran

http://www.worldwar1.com/sftdavis.htm

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During World War I many black troops were eager to fight but most provided support services. Only a small percentage were actually involved in combat. Yet, the African American presence in France--helping in any capacity--often elicited overwhelming gratitude from the French. Both the French and the American troops enjoyed listening to African American bands who sometimes introduced blues and jazz rhythms previously unknown to their listeners. This is a 1919 photograph of the 803rd Pioneer Infantry Band on board the U.S.S. Philippines in Brest Harbor, France.

803rd Pioneer Infantry Band, No. 16"803rd Pioneer Infantry to Battalion on the U.S.S. Philippines (troop ship) from Brest, France, July 18, 1919.Photograph.Gladstone Collection, Prints and Photographs Division.Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-6163 (7-5)

Sharing the African American Cultural Heritage Abroad

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Jazz Master James Reese Europe

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Sergeant Henry Johnson

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Sergeant Henry Johnson

Sergeant Henry Johnson's Commendation 369th US Infantry World War One

http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/reghist/wwi/infantry/369thInf/369thInfCommJohnson.htm

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Sergeant Henry Johnson

Wikipedia Articlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lincoln_Johnson

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End of the War

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Further ReferencesEmmett J. Scott worked for eighteen years as the private secretary to Booker T. Washington. He became a Special Assistant to Secretary of

War Newton Baker during World War I in order to oversee the recruitment, training, and morale of the African American soldiers.

Emmett J. Scott.Scott's Official History of the American Negro in the World War, 1919

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http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=ody_gcmisc&fileName=ody/ody0702/ody0702page.db&recNum=0&itemLink=D?aaodyssey:5:./temp/~ammem_iqV6::@@@mdb=aap,aaeo,rbaapcbib,aasm,aaodyssey,bbpix,rbpebib,mfd,hurstonbib,gmd,mcc,ncpm,afcesnbib,mesnbib,llstbib,uncall,fpnas&linkText=0

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Further ReferencesHarlem Hellfighters Video from the History Channel

(45 minutes)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGiKZMHXBFk&feature=related

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Further ReferencesJazz Master James Reese Europe

African American regiments in World War I were usually accompanied by bands. The most famous was

the band of the 369th Infantry, led by James Reese Europe, a prominent musician whose syncopated

style animated the dancing of Vernon and Irene Castle, creating a craze for social dancing. These

army bands became immensely popular in France, both among American troops and the French public,

introducing many Europeans to jazz and ragtime rhythm and African American performance styles.

Vaudeville star Noble Sissle, who belonged to Europe's band in war and peace, prepared this

biography of Europe, who was murdered soon after the war by a crazed band member. The Memoirs

include much information about the racial climate in the U.S. and France. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=musmisc&fileName=ody/ody0717/ody0717page.db&recNum=0&itemL

ink=/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aopart7.html@0717&linkText=9

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Further ReferencesEnd of the War

Further References