African-American soldiers played a significant role in World War II.
More than half a million of them served in Europe. But on the other side
they were also segregated inside of the army. They couldn’t serve on the same
units as white soldiers as well as they could not combat on the front lines
until 1941. This year, African-American civil rights leaders convinced the
government to set up all-black combat units and consequently, black
soldiers had the same kind of tasks.
In a way, we can ask ourselves if there was kind of “double war” for
African-American soldiers. In my opinion, war is a hell and it’s a very hard
ordeal. Soldiers had to fight in another territory they were far away from
home, and for black soldiers it was even harder to face because they had to
face the hostility of some soldiers, and of the army. Of course, they were
helping their country at the same level, so I think it was a really difficult
challenge for them.
