How far did the situation of African Americans in America improve during World War Two?

During World War Two, the situation of African Americans saw some improvement, though many of the advances were limited and short-lived. 

In the military, before the war, African Americans had been largely restricted from various military roles and subjected to severe racial discrimination.  For example, the US Airforce did not accept Black pilots, and Black soldiers in the Marines and Navy were relegated to roles such as cooks and mess men.  They were also not allowed to train as officers. 

However, during the war, there were some notable advances for African Americans in the armed forces.  Approximately 1.2 million African Americans fought in the war.  The establishment of the fighter group known as the Tuskegee Airmen led to 1,000 Black pilots by the end of the war.  Units like the 761st Tank Battalion, known as the 'Black Panthers', fought in significant battles such as the Battle of the Bulge in 1944; and, at Peleliu Island in 1944, the 17th SeeBee (Construction Brigade) company not only rescued wounded soldiers but also engaged in combat, which was previously unheard of for Black Marines.  Additionally, African American women were permitted to serve as nurses, and Black soldiers were also allowed to train as officers.  Black servicemen and women returned from the war with a new sense of confidence, ready to challenge the discrimination they faced at home. 

Despite these advancements, the military remained segregated, and Black soldiers faced unequal treatment and inferior facilities.  Black officers could only command Black soldiers, and Black nurses could only treat Black men.  The 1944 Port Chicago explosion and subsequent 'mutiny' highlighted the unsafe conditions and lack of proper training for African American soldiers.  Furthermore, in 1944, racial tensions in Guam resulted in the deaths of several Black Marines, and when other Black Marines retaliated, they were court-martialed and sentenced to prison. 

In the workforce, African Americans had faced systematic discrimination before the war, being restricted to the worst, lowest-paying jobs and receiving lower wages than white workers. 

However, during the war, nearly a million African Americans moved from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West, and by 1944, almost 2 million Black workers were employed in war-production industries.  Partly due to A.  Philip Randolph's threat of a massive protest march, President Roosevelt in 1941 issued Executive Order 8802 outlawing racial discrimination in the war industry and establishing the Fair Employment Practices Committee (FEPC) to enforce it.  The Supreme Court's 1944 ruling that US trade unions had a duty to fairly represent both Black and white workers further supported African American workers. 

Nevertheless, many African Americans still received lower wages and faced discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.  Many lost their jobs when white soldiers returned after the war.  Discrimination in education and housing persisted, as seen in the exclusion of African Americans from communities like Levittown, which was reserved for white veterans.  Racial tensions also led to race riots in places like Detroit in 1943 and attacks on Mexican-Americans in the 'Zoot Suit' Riots in Los Angeles. 

In the realm of civil rights, African Americans had faced severe segregation and violence before the war. 

During the war, the 'Double V' Campaign emerged, calling for victory over fascism abroad and racism at home, and the African American civil rights movement was galvanised.  The NAACP saw its membership rise from 50,000 to 450,000, and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) was founded in 1942, organizing its first sit-ins against segregated restaurants in 1943. 

Significant challenges remained, however.  Between 1941 and 1946, 22 African Americans, including war veterans, were lynched, and Black soldiers returning home found that white supremacy and segregation were still deeply entrenched, especially in the South.  Desegregation in the armed forces was not fully achieved until the Korean War. 

Ultimately, World War II did not drastically change the status of African Americans, but it significantly changed their outlook and determination to fight for their rights.