Minorities at War Essay

Many peoples lives changed in various ways during and after the World War II. The lives of women and minorities such as African Americans and autochthonal Americans, changed drastically mostly in a positive way. Just standardized during most contends, women found jobs and opportunities. This was mainly because men and husbands went to campaign in industries and factories in different parts of the country while others went to state of war as soldiers. With step-down in the male taskforce, young girls and married women had to take up responsibilities and jobs that were traditionally considered to be for men (Mays 17).Unlike the First World War, where women served as secretaries and nurses, in the Second World War they were placed in more clever jobs such as research, electronics, engineering and mechanics (Mays 17). The Womens Army army corps was created in 1942, which enabled women to participate in combat fields as pilots and other support personnel but not in direct combat . The war served as a major platform for women in society, women started being viewed as useful in various fields and not just as caregivers. The opportunity to take part in jobs that were traditionally considered for men excessively empowered women psychologically (Mays 17).The fight for equating for all citizens began after the accomplished war where President Lincoln freed the slaves. The Select Service cause was passed in 1940, allowing Hispanics, Native-Americans and African-Americans to enroll to all the branches of the army. The war offered opportunities for many African Americans to skirt pauperism in their coarse homes (Reinhardt and Ganzel). Many blacks enlisted in the army trying to escape a long period of tenant farming and Depression in the Midwest and South. The army recruited Negroes but still practiced segregation (Reinhardt and Ganzel).In the chaos of war, especially after Pearl Harbor, the army had to work in concert and segregation was broken. After the war , many blacks opted to remain in towns and do work related to what they did in the army instead of going back to their rural homes (Reinhardt and Ganzel). Movements for fighting for civil rights had been created. The post-war era, was a period of exceptional struggle by the African Americans against the second class citizenship that had been accorded to them. They resisted racial discrimination and segregation done nationwide protests, boycotts, rallies and civil disobedience (Reinhardt and Ganzel).Many blacks joined civil rights movements and sound efforts were made to challenge segregation and inequality through courts. These efforts were rewarded with the passing of the cultured Rights Act in 1964 which outlawed racism and segregation. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was also passed allowing all races to vote. The passing of these acts was a great step in the demise of second class citizenship (Reinhardt and Ganzel). The struggle by the blacks to achieve equality inspired and in fluenced other civil rights groups as well such as NativeAmericans and Hispanics.The war as witnessed was a great turning consign for both women and minorities in America. They were all empowered by the situations created by the war to improve their status in society and fight for their rights. Work Cited Mays, Dorothy A. Women in early America struggle, survival, and freedom in a new world. Santa Barbara ABC-CLIO Inc. Publishers, 2004. Reinhardt, Claudia and Ganzel, Bill. accomplished Rights for Minorities. Wesley Living History Farm. 26 August 2010 from http//www. livinghistoryfarm. org/farminginthe40s/life_18. html