Segregation
It is known that there was at least one battalion of Black American Soldiers came across to the UK at the end of 1943, and the beginning of 1944.
In an account one individual said:
“The fact that while my father and most other officers of the 452nd battalion were white, the enlisted men in his battery and indeed his entire battalion were 100% African American.”
“My father’s unit .. was the only coloured unit stationed at the time in Ashchurch which was an active combat unit, rather than the more typical service units that black units tend to be.”
The Black Americans, who came over to support the war effort, experienced segregation.
After the American Civil War and the end of slavery Black Americans had hoped for equality. However, the subsequent implementation of the ‘Jim Crow Laws’ meant their hopes were dashed. These laws meant that black folk could be kept separate as long as services that were provided were similar.
Segregation is the physical separation and the provision of so called ‘separate but equal’ facilities. A prime example of this is that pre-1950 the US Armed Forces were split into Black and White Units. One million had joined up for the Second World War. But despite desegregation in 1948, another decade would pass before it actually occurred. It was the same in civilian life.
One account describes the segregation Black Soldiers faced at Ashchurch Army camp and in Tewkesbury town, stating that:
“we only ever saw white troops in the canteen, the coloured Americans had as separate camp on the other side of Northway lane, near the Northway Hotel. This was used by the American Officers as a Social Centre. The Black Americans were housed in the usual Army huts, not the semi-permanent type as on the main camp.”
“The coloured boys [sic] had to be housed separately because the racial tension was terrible at the time between them and the whites. There were so many fights and arguments, especially in the public houses, that eventually they were not allowed in Tewkesbury at the same time.” This was referred to locally as ‘black and white days’. Furthermore, the black American soldiers were (supposedly) not allowed to fraternise with the local girls at all.
The Black Americans, who came over to support the war effort, experienced segregation.
After the American Civil War and the end of slavery Black Americans had hoped for equality. However, the subsequent implementation of the ‘Jim Crow Laws’ meant their hopes were dashed. These laws meant that black folk could be kept separate as long as services that were provided were similar.
Segregation is the physical separation and the provision of so called ‘separate but equal’ facilities. A prime example of this is that pre-1950 the US Armed Forces were split into Black and White Units. One million had joined up for the Second World War. But despite desegregation in 1948, another decade would pass before it actually occurred. It was the same in civilian life.