James Lee Dickey: An Analysis of One African-American's Leadership in Jim Crow TexasMain MenuJames Lee Dickey: An Analysis of One African American's Leadership in Jim Crow TexasIntroductionSlave No MoreFreedman after Bondage 1865 - 1955African American LeadershipContenders for the TitleJames Lee DickeyThe Leadership of James Lee DickeyLocations in Dr. James Lee Dickey's StoryGoogle locations for Dr. Dickey's BiographyMaureen Grayab288c53aefb942d3e6102c32f4d6e3a10268d3b
1media/WWII african_americans_wwii_013.jpg2018-03-14T17:56:23-07:00World War II8image_header2018-06-17T22:11:48-07:00When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Americans of all ethnicities pledged themselves to military service. Many African Americans believed that if they contributed equally via military service in WWII, they would gain respect from white America. In 1939, the US military was 2% black with all black servicemen in non-combat units such as cooks, messmen, and servants. Integration was believed to cause upheaval in discipline and morale. President Roosevelt enunciated a balance of force policy. If African Americans made up 10% of the total US population, then they should make up 10% of the armed forces. Rather than easing tensions as intended, however, FDR’s order caused increased conflict because the Southern majority in the military did all they to make black soldiers fail. When the army staff reported failure to perform, black soldiers were assigned menial tasks like janitorial services. Even if a black soldier were treated fairly on base, most military bases were located in the South where Jim Crow was stringently enforced. When soldiers were granted leave, problems could arise with little provocation.
