Our fifth student work feature for Black Histories and Futures Month is "From Battlefields to Courtrooms: The Transformative Role of World War II in U.S. Race Relations," written by Camden Tait in HIST 275: The African American Experience, taught by Dr. Laila Haidarali.
As Tait explains, their paper:
delves into the multifaceted dimensions of World War II as a watershed moment in U.S. race relations, examining key elements that shaped the trajectory of the African American struggle for civil rights. Central to this exploration is an analysis of the central role played by African American military service, with a focus on the nuanced aspects of recognition of service and the Double V campaign. Additionally, the paper will explore the dynamic changes brought by migration and economic shifts during the war, encapsulated by the Second Great Migration and the economic opportunities it presented. The post-war landscape witnessed the emergence of a robust civil rights movement, fueled by activism and legal challenges, which further propelled the quest for racial equality. A critical aspect of this evolution was the legislative and Supreme Court decisions that followed, particularly the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. By delving into these intricacies, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how World War II acted as a catalyst, reshaping the contours of race relations and setting the stage for pivotal advancements in the ongoing struggle for civil rights in the United States.
In honour of Black History Month, the Department of History is featuring undergraduate student research that addresses Black histories, Black cultures, and Black experiences. Throughout the month of February, we will post projects deemed to be the strongest by our faculty. The selected papers were produced for courses in the Department of History.
We hope you enjoy reading our students’ work! Learn more about events on campus and in Kingston celebrating Black Histories and Futures Month here.
