BHM - African Americans in Times of War:
They are “demonstrating their citizenship, and their love for America, despite the fact that they are not
receiving the rights that they had been promised according to the Constitution.
We considered how military service in the American Revolution and the Civil War
affected African American identity, i.e., black men's sense of themselves
within white society, while fighting wars for freedom. In addition to the
problems of war faced by all soldiers, African-American soldiers faced
additional difficulties created by racial prejudice. Although many served in
the infantry and artillery, discriminatory practices resulted in large numbers
of African-American soldiers being assigned to perform non-combat, support
duties as cooks, laborers, and teamsters. African-American soldiers were paid
$10 per month, from which $3 was deducted for clothing. White soldiers were
paid $13 per month, from which no clothing allowance was deducted. If captured
by the Confederate Army, African-American soldiers confronted a much greater
threat than did their white counterparts.
In
spite of their many hardships, African-American soldiers served the Union Army
well and distinguished themselves in many battles. Of their service to the
nation Frederick Douglass said, "Once let the black man get upon his
person the brass letters U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket
on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on earth
which can deny that he has earned the right of citizenship in the United
States." African-American soldiers comprised about 10 percent of the Union
Army. It is estimated that one-third of all African Americans who enlisted lost
their lives.
#BlackHistoryMonthHHC #Sheshereforit
No comments:
Post a Comment