During W.W. II, posters featured Joe Louis, a black man that had fought in every American war. This was the first time in which the black’s participation was advertised by the government. The fight became twofold — one of fighting the racism of the German and Japanese governments as well as fighting racism experienced at home. Blacks were prevented from holding supervisory jobs, joining certain unions, living in white neighborhoods and attending many schools. During this war, there were 16 million men in uniform, of which 1 million were black. There were 250,000 women soldiers of which 4,000 were black. On July 25, 1948, Truman signed Executive Order No. 9981 to desegregate the nation’s armed forces.

The post World War II years raised public awareness of black conditions, particularly since many had served with great distinction in a war against ethnic injustice, suppression and discrimination, only to return as patriots to a society that represented similar elements. Out of this, the civil rights movement was born. There was a general migration of blacks to the northern and western cities. The Supreme Court, along with federal court rulings, in the 1940s and 1950s brought victories in education, housing, recreation, and other areas where discrimination and segregation still festered.