An African American officer in WWI changes history when he questions why he is risking his life for a country that treats him with scorn. The making of a legend.
That is a very interesting piece on military and civil rights history, and something I didn't know about. The linkage of Thurgood Marshall as Houston's student answered an unspoken question in my mind as to Marshall's background which motivated his involvement in countering unjust legal persecution of African American military service members during WWII. The case I knew about, from my Navy experience as the supply officer of a ammunition ship that loaded and discharged ordinance at the former Port Chicago (renamed Concord Naval Weapons Station), was Marshall attending the Port Chicago 50 court martial and attempting to influence the outcome in a more just direction. These sailors were charged with mutiny over their refusal to work in unsafe ammunition handling conditions after an ammunition explosion had instantly killed over 320 on the docks.
The Smithsonian link below has more info on Marshall's & the NAACP's involvement in other WWII court martials which are likely lesser known:
It’s funny you mentioned that as I’m will be covering that probably next week! I look forward to your comments. Houston’s story partly inspired my work on my dissertation because I was curious about the link between the world wars and Black civic engagement.
And you are right about the importance of the military cases as tests for wider civil rights adjudication.
That is a very interesting piece on military and civil rights history, and something I didn't know about. The linkage of Thurgood Marshall as Houston's student answered an unspoken question in my mind as to Marshall's background which motivated his involvement in countering unjust legal persecution of African American military service members during WWII. The case I knew about, from my Navy experience as the supply officer of a ammunition ship that loaded and discharged ordinance at the former Port Chicago (renamed Concord Naval Weapons Station), was Marshall attending the Port Chicago 50 court martial and attempting to influence the outcome in a more just direction. These sailors were charged with mutiny over their refusal to work in unsafe ammunition handling conditions after an ammunition explosion had instantly killed over 320 on the docks.
The Smithsonian link below has more info on Marshall's & the NAACP's involvement in other WWII court martials which are likely lesser known:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/deadly-world-war-ii-explosion-sparked-black-soldiers-fight-equal-treatment-180980545/
It’s funny you mentioned that as I’m will be covering that probably next week! I look forward to your comments. Houston’s story partly inspired my work on my dissertation because I was curious about the link between the world wars and Black civic engagement.
And you are right about the importance of the military cases as tests for wider civil rights adjudication.
Amazing Article ! Wow! Great Job!