African Americans played an active role in the war effort; however, given their poor treatment by much of white America, it is not surprising that many blacks were ambivalent about their service. In a controversial editorial in the Crisis, the journal of the NAACP, W. E. B. Du Bois urged the black community to “close ranks” with the rest of American society to fight Germany. Du Bois hoped that their service would lead to greater acceptance for African Americans by white society. Less than a year later, Du Bois published a bitter attack against the treatment of African American soldiers and enduring American racism.
| 20.4 | W. E. B. Du Bois | “Close Ranks,” 1918 |
This is the crisis of the world. For all the long years to come men will point to the year 1918 as the great Day of Decision, the day when the world decided whether it would submit to military despotism and an endless armed peace—if peace it could be called—or whether they would put down the menace of German militarism and inaugurate the United States of the World.
We of the colored race have no ordinary interest in the outcome. That which the German power represents today spells death to the aspirations of Negroes and all darker races for equality, freedom, and democracy. Let us not hesitate. Let us, while this war lasts, forget our special grievances and close our ranks shoulder to shoulder with our own white fellow citizens and the allied nations that are fighting for democracy. We make no ordinary sacrifice, but we make it gladly and willingly with our eyes lifted to the hills.
Source: W. E. B. Du Bois, “Close Ranks,” The Crisis, July 1918, 111.
| 20.5 | W. E. B. Du Bois | “Returning Soldiers,” 1919 |
We are returning from war! . . .
. . . We return from the slavery of uniform which the world’s madness demanded us to don to the freedom of civil garb. We stand again to look America squarely in the face and call a spade a spade. We sing: This country of ours, despite all its better souls have done and dreamed, is yet a shameful land.
It lynches. . . .
It disfranchises its own citizens. . . .
Itencourages ignorance. . . .
It steals from us. . . .
It insults us. . . .
This is the country to which we Soldiers of Democracy return. This is the fatherland for which we fought! But it is our fatherland. It was right for us to fight. The faults of our country are our faults. Under similar circumstances, we would fight again. But by the God of Heaven, we are cowards and jackasses if now that that war is over, we do not marshal every ounce of our brain and brawn to fight a sterner, longer, more unbending battle against the forces of hell in our own land.
We return.
We return from fighting.
We return fighting.
Make way for Democracy! We saved it in France, and by the Great Jehovah, we will save it in the United States of America, or know the reason why.
Source: W. E. B. Du Bois, “Returning Soldiers,” The Crisis, May 1919, 13–14.
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