Fighting for Equality While at War

Racial tensions began to erupt even before African American soldiers deployed to Europe. One of the major instances was when black soldiers stationed at Camp Logan in Houston, TX grew increasingly frustrated at the treatment of the white locals and police force towards their presence. the tensions culminated August 23rd, 1917 when a small riot broke out betweeen the black soldiers and white locals, resulting in the deaths of four soldiers and sixteen local people. 110 black soldiers were convincted on causing the riot, sixty four received life sentences and thirteeen were executed by hanging. This event furthered separated the two races and pushed racist policies that prevented military bases in the south from training African Americans for the war. 

Events like the riots in East St. Louis and Houston spurred many African Americans to protest the actions of white locals and businessowners. Led by the famous writer, educator, and activist W.E.B. DuBois, well-dressed African Americans protested the racial violence focused on them in labor, housing, and military practices. 

Just as important as the Silent Protests down Fifth Avenue, the 369th Regiment also made their way down as a victory parade for African Americans where 250,000 spectators welcomed them home, hoping that the Harlem Hellfighters would take their fight to the racist policies in place in the United States through patriotism and duty to country.

Unfortunately, violence erupted from the rise of Communism in eastern countries after World War I, and a fervor of pride among African American communities was mislabeled as an uprising against white society. Lynchings, race riots, and murders rose in major U.S. cities. One of the worst instances is when hundreds of black sharecroppers were killed in Elaine, Arkansas when they made an attempt to organize themselves.