Desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces Accomplished
Desegregation of the U.S. Armed Services Accomplished
By 1954, then-Secretary of Defense Charles Erwin Wilson announced that the last all-black active-duty unit had been abolished. Executive Order (EO) 9981 broke many barriers.
"Harry Truman… Chase-Statler, Apr. 19, 1945. Chronological List of Presidents, First Ladies, and Vice Presidents of the United States: Selected Images From the Collections of the Library of Congress. Prints & Photographs Division"
"Front page of Chicago Defender"
Executive Order 9981 was a key policy implementation that had far reaching effects on the country's basic human rights. Southerners in Congress, majority of whites, and the Army were reluctant to accept EO 9981 and delayed the implementation as long as they could. President Truman remained persistent, and pushed for an efficient implementation, realizing that it was the right thing to do. EO 9981 stands as an honest, thoughtful, and enduring accomplishment. When considered alongside other breakthrough Civil Right accomplishments, EO 9981 is striking for its effectiveness and endurance. The desegregation of Armed Services, provided African Americans with the courage, to fight for their basic rights, and was a key driver for the Civil Rights Movement in 1964, "which outlawed discrimination or segregation on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin."
"Martin Luther King Jr and other Civil rights leaders emblazoned with the inspiring words of King" (Image: ColorofChange.org)
“There’s no racial discrimination in the military today. There’s no black or white, we’re all green.”
~ Common Party Line