So I went on a walk the other night with a friend of mine and we got talking about #blacklivesmatter movement, and he hadn't realised how recent segregation in the U.S was a thing.

It's not overly taught in the U.K so here's a fact for you. The U.S fought the Nazis, segregated.

The African American Community signed up in droves, 1.5 million signing for the draft. Only 125,000 served.
Only 48 African American Women were allowed to serve as Nurses, and they themselves were only allowed to treat African American soldiers. Even blood banks were segregated.

90 percent of black troops were forced to serve in labor and supply units, not combat units. Except for a few weeks during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944 when commanders were desperate for manpower, all U.S. soldiers served in segregated units under white officers.

African-Americans were allowed to train as pilots in the segregated Tuskeegee Airmen. The 92nd Buffalo Soldiers and 93rd Blue Helmets all-black divisions were activated and sent abroad under the command of white officers.

To put that into perspective. African Americans could serve in 2 of the 91 army divisions in WW2. Japanese Americans (who were perceived as Aliens due to America being at war with Japan) were only allowed to fight in a single regiment. That's a whole other story.

The 92nd "Buffalo Soldiers' were awarded Awards: Medal of Honor: 2 (Posthumously in 1997); Distinguished Service Cross (United States): 2; Army Distinguished Service Medal: 1; Silver Star: 208; Legion of Merit: 16; Soldier's Medal: 6; Bronze Star: 1,166; Purple Heart; 1,891

It took the USA up to the year of my birth to award two soldiers of that unit their highest award for bravery. 32 years after the abolishment of Jim Crow and 49 years after the desegregation of the US military.

The division's commander, Major General Almond, was chosen by General Marshall to command the division because he believed Almond would excel at what was seen as a difficult assignment.

However, Almond performed poorly and went on to blame his poor performance on the fact the unit was largely composed of African Americans, seeing them as the reason for his failure in combat and then going on to advise the Army against ever using African American soldiers.

There are many cases that disprove Almonds racially charged theory, such as that of Benjamin O. Davis, Jr who was the commander of the forementioned Tuskegee Airmen. He later went on to be the first African American general of the U.S airforce.

Or Vernon Joseph Baker of the 92nd infantry who received a Medal of Honor. You can read the citation of his heroism right here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Baker

I could keep going on and on about this topic, and I high encourage you to research it yourself. Langston Hughes elequently sums up the feelings of many on this topic, in his poem "From Beaumont to Detroit" - 1943. You can read it below:

I think I'll close this thread with the opening line of said poem.

"Looky here America, What you done done - let things drift, untill the riots come."

A nation built on freedom managed to fight the Nazis while themselves oppressors.

The British too were no angels. Nor anyone. Nor are we now. But how can we in our right minds herald ourselves for defeating the worst man who ever lived's Reich of Terror and not see our hypocrisy.

Right that's me done. Have a wonderful day and stay safe out there.