The Struggle for Justice The Struggle for Justice at Homeat Home

Minority Contributions Minority Contributions (African-Americans)- Tuskegee Airmen- (African-Americans)- Tuskegee Airmen-

pilots who flew during WWIIpilots who flew during WWII (Asian Americans) 442(Asian Americans) 442ndnd Regional Combat Regional Combat

Unit fought in the War in Asia against Unit fought in the War in Asia against Japan)Japan)

(Latinos)- fought in (Latinos)- fought in (Native Americans)- Codetalkers- fought in (Native Americans)- Codetalkers- fought in

the warthe war

African-AmericansAfrican-Americans

Struggle to end Struggle to end discrimination existed discrimination existed for decadesfor decades

South- Jim Crow laws South- Jim Crow laws strictly enforced strictly enforced

North- fewer North- fewer segregation laws but segregation laws but AA faced job, housing AA faced job, housing & education & education discriminationdiscrimination

Riots resulted b/c of Riots resulted b/c of resentment felt by white resentment felt by white workersworkers

Soldiers & segregation- Soldiers & segregation- military continued to military continued to practice segregation practice segregation

Polls showed that the Polls showed that the government and most government and most white’s felt that African white’s felt that African Americans were satisfied Americans were satisfied with existing conditionswith existing conditions

African Americans (cont’d)African Americans (cont’d) CORECORE, Congress of , Congress of

Racial Equality in Racial Equality in Chicago (1942)Chicago (1942)

A. Philip Randolph- A. Philip Randolph- fought for acceptance of fought for acceptance of AA’s in unions. AA’s in unions.

Helped force government Helped force government to order defense factories to order defense factories to open jobs and training to open jobs and training programs to all programs to all Americans Americans

Mexican AmericansMexican Americans Also faced discrimination, Also faced discrimination,

although new job although new job opportunitiesopportunities

By 1944- 17,000 jobs in By 1944- 17,000 jobs in LA shipyards filled by LA shipyards filled by MexicansMexicans

Bracero ProgramBracero Program: an : an agricultural worker agricultural worker shortage forced the US to shortage forced the US to make an agreement with make an agreement with MexicoMexico

Lived in barrios, crowed Lived in barrios, crowed conditions & conditions & discrimination lead to discrimination lead to rising tensions within the rising tensions within the communitycommunity

Zoot Suit Riots- Zoot Suit Riots- Sailors Sailors on leave would attack on leave would attack these young men. Led to these young men. Led to publicized riots and often publicized riots and often the victim was blamed.the victim was blamed.

Native AmericansNative Americans

25,000 joined the service25,000 joined the service Many other migrated for Many other migrated for

workwork New experiences caused New experiences caused

an adaptation to take an adaptation to take placeplace

Many never returned to Many never returned to the reservation, cut off the reservation, cut off from their rootsfrom their roots

Japanese AmericansJapanese Americans

Suffered the worstSuffered the worst 1941- 127,000 lived in the 1941- 127,000 lived in the

USUS Most lived in the West Most lived in the West

Coast where they faced Coast where they faced discriminationdiscrimination

2/3 of the Japanese were 2/3 of the Japanese were 11stst generation Americans generation Americans (Nisei- parents had (Nisei- parents had emigrated from Japan)emigrated from Japan)

Japanese Relocation:Japanese Relocation:Internment Camps Internment Camps (confinement during (confinement during wartime)wartime)

At first German & Italian At first German & Italian Americans were included Americans were included but it did not lastbut it did not last

Executive Order 9066 Executive Order 9066 (1942)(1942)

110,000 people both 110,000 people both citizens & non-citizens, citizens & non-citizens, ordered to move away ordered to move away form the coastform the coast

Japanese Americans (cont’d)Japanese Americans (cont’d)

They were relocated so They were relocated so quicklyquickly

They had no idea where they They had no idea where they were goingwere going

Camps were located in Camps were located in desolated areas, with wooden desolated areas, with wooden barracks covered with barracks covered with tarpaper. Inside the barracks tarpaper. Inside the barracks families had a room equipped families had a room equipped with only cots, blankets and a with only cots, blankets and a light bulb. People had to light bulb. People had to share a toilet, bathing & share a toilet, bathing & dining facilities. Barbed wire dining facilities. Barbed wire & armed guards surrounded & armed guards surrounded the camps.the camps.

Japanese Americans (cont’d)Japanese Americans (cont’d) Legal challenges were Legal challenges were

made, 4 cases went before made, 4 cases went before the SC but they ruled that the SC but they ruled that wartime relocation was wartime relocation was constitutionalconstitutional

Not allowed to return home Not allowed to return home until 1945until 1945

Most families lost Most families lost everythingeverything

1988- Congress passed a 1988- Congress passed a law compensating the law compensating the families with a $20,000 families with a $20,000 payment. 40 years later.payment. 40 years later.

Despite the injustice, Despite the injustice, more than 17,000 more than 17,000 Japanese served in the Japanese served in the armed forces, 1,200 of armed forces, 1,200 of them did so from them did so from relocation centers.relocation centers.

442442ndnd Regiment Combat Regiment Combat TeamTeam. They fought in . They fought in France & Germany and France & Germany and won more medals for won more medals for bravery than any other bravery than any other unit in US History.unit in US History.