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Minorities on the Home Front (WWII)African-Americans largest minority groupJim Crow laws = segregation especially in the SouthSuffered from lower income and life expectancy; barred from high-paying jobs and educationGroups formed to fight for increased civil rightsNAACP most notableProgress slow; discrimination continued through WWII Involvement in the WarRacial prejudice engrained in military; service positions on home front; units segregatedPolicy eventually changesFDR pressured by black voters in reelection campaign (1940)Discrimination continued in both war and home frontProgress madeDrastic increase in representation in all military forcesExecutive Order 8802- banned discrimination in defense industries and government Tuskegee Airmen- bomber escort missions in N Africa and S. Europe; famous for success and braveryAnti-Discrimination measures Committee on Racial Equality (CORE): sit-ins and public demonstrationsDouble V campaign (“Two Victories”)- 1942Victory overseas/victory over racial disciminationHuge support from black communitiesSucceeded in gaining more attention to supporting civil rightsRacial TensionsWorker shortages by 1943 led to increased employment for blacks Frustrated by living conditions in ghettos and lack of social servicesTensions culminate across several statesDetroit Riots (1943) most infamous exampleCommissions formed to prevent further rioting; radio and newspapers brought plights to lightHome Front gains by 1944Increased unemployment (including federal employment)More skilled black workersIncreased payFDR somewhat unresponsiveFocused on victory in war, not controversial domestic issuesBlack Americans still first to be laid off; commission against racial discrimination ended in 1946Racial barriers in industry and military loweredIncreased activism and membership in NAACPAlien ActsTargeted immigrants; fear of political radicals sympathetic to Germany/ItalySmith Act (1940)Illegal to promote violent overthrow of the governmentImmigrants often targeted for wiretappingRefusal to hire foreigners (regardless of citizenship)Heavily criticized by Roosevelt (contradictory to war effort)Post Pear HarborJapanese, German, and Italian foreigners considered “enemy aliens”Engaged in discriminatory practicesDetainment centers created in Midwest and SouthwestLittle evidence of subversive activity led to more leniency of policiesJapanese-AmericansSuffered worst treatment; more than half were U.S. citizens1924 laws limited Japanese and other Asian citizenship opportunitiesAnti-Japanese sentiments Prominent after WWII; yellow journalism pushed potential of espionage by Japanese-AmericansForced into isolated communitiesDenied employment and housing in various areasJapanese InternmentFDR’s Executive Order 9066120,000 rounded up; supported by many Americans (cheap housing and goods left behind, lack of business competition)Not as popular in Hawaii (1/3 population Japanese-Americans)Detention centers created in W. and SW of USTerrible living conditionsLow-morale led to fights and riotsDetainees released by 1944; little assistance in reentering society led to continued resentment and psychological distressMexican-AmericansLargest group of Spanish speaking peoples in USMost active in WW2 amongst minority groups (percentage)More opportunities for employment than blacks, but often faced discrimination and deportationIncreased employment in industrial war centers by 1943 due to worker shortagesDepartment of Labor creates vocational schools to produce skilled laborersMexican government hesitant to provide farm workers as Mexican immigrants moved to military/industrial serviceMass deportation in 1930s (both immigrants and US citizens)Agreement reached in 1942: created the Braceros ProgramStill faced intense discrimination and poor working conditions in the fieldsDiscriminationHousing, labor, and jobsResentment created Mexican youth gangs; “zoot suits” became cultural symbol of defianceJune 1943- “Zoot Suit Riots” in Los Angeles led to increased activism supporting improved conditions“Americans All” slogan became source of hypocrisyReturning veterans refused to accept discriminationAccepted racial diversity in Europe impacted mentalities ................
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