A special Black History Month presentation examining the long and often painful journey of African American soldiers in the United States military will be held Saturday, Feb. 14, at the WWII American Experience in Gettysburg.
The program is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the museum, located at 845 Crooked Creek Road, and will be led by historian Leon Reed.
Reed’s talk will trace the role of Black service members across multiple wars and generations, focusing not only on their battlefield contributions but also on the discrimination they faced while fighting for a nation that frequently denied them equal rights at home.
The presentation will explore the struggle of African Americans in many wars for the chance to prove to their fellow Americans that they could be brave, disciplined, and willing to sacrifice everything — even as they served a country that too often scorned them.
The discussion will also highlight the uneven progress toward equal opportunity in the U.S. Army following the Civil War, a period when Black troops fought for greater recognition and fair treatment within the ranks.
Reed will address the setbacks that followed, including the re-segregation of the military under President Woodrow Wilson and during World War I, when racial divisions were reinforced even as the nation called on soldiers to defend democracy abroad.
The program will further examine the “abominable treatment” endured by African Americans during World War II, when Black troops served in segregated units and faced widespread prejudice despite their critical contributions to the war effort.
A key turning point in the story came after the war, when President Harry Truman made the landmark decision to desegregate the armed forces, setting the stage for a gradual transformation of the military.
The presentation is open to the public and will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at 845 Crooked Creek Road.
Source: DFA, WWII Experience