1. Lesson starter: Write down five facts about World War II.
Civil Rights and WWII
Lesson starter:
Write down five facts about World War II.

2. Today we will…
Understand why World War II marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement

3. During WWI, the U.S. army was still segregated and African Americans had mainly support roles
African Americans again signed up for WWII when the U.S. joined in 1941
This time they talked about the “Double V” campaign – Double Victory

4. v v
Victory against Hitler in Europe
Victory for Civil Rights at home

5. During the war…
Civil Rights leader A. Philip Randolph met with President Roosevelt to discuss racial discrimination in companies with defense contracts.
FDR told him that he was not going to take action on that issue during the war.
Randolph told FDR that he was organizing a “Million Man March” on Washington, D.C. in protest to federal inaction on racial discrimination
Philip Randolph

6. Black Civil Rights Actions
Randolph was hoping that FDR would act because he did not want a protest against his policies in the nation’s capital.
Beginning in early 1942, the Pittsburgh Courier, a nationally read Black newspaper, launched a "Double V" campaign demanding that Black soldiers who were risking their lives abroad receive full citizenship at home.
The paper designed a recognizable “Double V” logo to promote the campaign via posters and buttons and ran photographs of people supporting the campaign. The Courier also printed editorials and numerous letters from readers about the need for racial equality.
Many white and Black Americans got behind the “Double V” campaign

7. I am leading my country in a war against fascism, to fight for European peoples’ freedom. African Americans want to protest for their freedom in the USA. This will be hugely embarrassing for me!
U.S. President, Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR)

8. Executive Order 8802 FDR gave in and gave this order which:
Ended all segregation/discrimination in the armed forces
Did the same for all government jobs
Government would support an end to discrimination in all American jobs.

9. Why was WWII a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement?
Many Black soldiers had served their country in two world wars and were military heroes.
America was fighting for freedom in Europe when America was an unjust country itself.
U.S. soldiers overseas saw countries which were not segregated and felt they deserved the same.
The Double V campaign pushed for equality and was supported by many Americans.
FDR had issued an executive order that ended discrimination in the armed forces (Executive Order 8802).
Many people believed Black Americans deserved a reward for their war effort (in the army and at home).