Black patriots played an important role in the American Revolution, with about five thousand African Americans serving the cause of independence. From the first shot at Lexington and Concord to the final shot at Yorktown, Black recruits fought side by side with their white comrades. By the time of the Civil War, the American military was segregated, with nearly two hundred thousand African Americans serving in the Union Army and Navy.
The Armed Forces remained segregated when the United States entered World War I. Nevertheless, African Americans supported the war effort, with about three hundred fifty thousand serving in the American Expeditionary Force. One hundred seventy members of a Black unit, the 369th Infantry, known as the Hell Fighters from Harlem, were awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French for their bravery in combat.
On this date in 1917, it was announced that Adjutant General Fraser received instructions regarding North Dakota’s African American troops. He was to move one percent of them to Fort Dodge in Iowa, where they would be joined by troops from other states to form a regiment. Fraser noted that only seventy-four had registered for the draft, and fourteen of those were exempt. That left only fifty in uniform. After realizing he had only fifty uniformed men, Fraser expressed uncertainty about how to accomplish this task, when one percent of fifty is half a man.
The Black troops who served their country honorably were recognized not only by the military but also in the newspapers. They were always designated as “colored” troops. The United States military remained segregated throughout the war, with Black troops routinely assigned to perform menial labor, such as transport and salvage, rather than serving in combat units. They faced discrimination and physical abuse from their white officers and often lived in tents while white troops were housed in barracks.
Almost four hundred thousand African Americans served in the Armed Forces during World War I. While most were assigned menial duties, some did see combat. One newspaper article reported that their “glorious fighting record gives them rights to the benefits of full citizenship,” although that recognition came slowly. The military remained segregated through World War II, and President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 in 1948, finally desegregating the United States Armed Forces. This decision became an inspiration for the growing Civil Rights movement.
Dakota Datebook by Dr. Carole Butcher
Sources:
- The Weekly Times-News. “North Dakota Negroes to Camp Dodge Oct. 27.” Valley City ND. 10/18/2024. Page 2.
- Bismarck Tribune. “Fort Dodge Awaits Clothing for Next Draft.” Bismarck ND. 12/4/1917. Page 6.
- Bismarck Tribune. “American Negroes’ Glorious Fighting Record Gives Them Rights to Benefits of Full Citizenship.” Bismarck ND. 8/9/1918. Page 8.
- Fargo Forum and Daily Republican. “Contonment at Camp Dodge Costs Uncle Sam Over $5,500,000.” Fargo ND. 11/10/1917. Page 3.
- Fargo Forum and Daily Republican. “How to Move One Percent of North Dakota’s Colored Troops Puzzles General Fraser.” Fargo ND. 10/17/1917. Page 12.
- American Battlefield Trust. “Black Patriots in the American Revolution.” https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-black-patriots-american-revolution#:~:text=Barring%20a%20few%20units%2C%20the%20Continental%20army%20and,Americans%2C%20and%20Native%20Americans%20serving%20side%20by%20side. Accessed 9/13/2024.
- Smithsonian. “African American Troops in World War I.” https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/10-facts-black-patriots-american-revolution#:~:text=Barring%20a%20few%20units%2C%20the%20Continental%20army%20and,Americans%2C%20and%20Native%20Americans%20serving%20side%20by%20side. Accessed 9/13/2024.
- National Archives. “African Americans in the Military During World War I.” https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/wwi/war Accessed 9/14/2024.
- History. “Why President Truman Ended Segregation in the US Military in 1948.” https://www.history.com/news/harry-truman-executive-order-9981-desegration-military-1948 Accessed 9/14/2024.
