War Stories: African American Soldiers and the Long Civil Rights Movement-U.S.

Using this document collection, students will apply the historian's skills in critical analysis and synthesis to craft a narrative about black soldiers as they resisted discrimination and became foot soldiers in the integration of America, a major consequence of the Long Civil Rights Movement. Students will be able to test the "resistance-watershed" thesis debated among historians who question whether World War II provided a spark for African Americans to push for equality. Students are guided through their analysis of the primary sources with an author-provided learning objective, central question, and historical context.