Racism in the United States during World War II

Racism in the United States took a new turn during the Second World War. More African Americans managed to secure jobs and to receive education. The efforts to combat racial discrimination started giving successful results, leading to more opportunities for people of African origin. In the story If He Hollers Let Him Go written by Chester Himes, the main character, Robert Jones, has such chance; however, he becomes a victim of discrimination from a white woman named Madge who refuses to work with him based on his race. Due to increasing tensions between them, Jones has to enlist into the army. This incident reveals the persistence of racism in the United States during World War II even despite the improvements in the inter-racial relationships that had been attained. Robert Jones is an African American who works at a shipyard. He starts having confrontations with Madge, a coworker, after she refuses to work with him as he is black. Jones loses his temper with her and later, has a conflict with his supervisor (Himes 32). He is accused of betraying the firm's hopes that he would play a pivotal role in demonstrating how to advance positive interracial relations at the time when the country is trying to move away from racism. Jones’ position of a team leader in the company was initially meant to promote cooperation among African-American and white employees. Being a crew supervisor puts a person under great pressure and scrutiny, especially when one is an African American. Jones is expected to lead the war on racial discrimination. However, racism profoundly affects relations between whites and blacks in the shipbuilding company. , and he himself becomes a victim of this vice. Jones contemplates rape as part of revenge for racial remarks made by his team member Madge. Meanwhile, Alice Harrison, an African-American friend, convinces Jones to apologize to the company for the incident that has led to the confrontation with his supervisor (Himes 105). However, this cannot reduce racial animosity that exists among the employees. Instead, it thrives: after Jones disappoints Madge’s sexual expectations, she expresses even more hatred towards Jones. Intolerance and anger push people for the worst. Although white individuals develop cordial relations with African Americans and proclaim equality and mutual respect, some degree of habitual exploitation continues to emerge. Madge’s friendly approach to Jones appears to be driven by the need for sex with him, which ends dramatically when he refuses to give in (Himes 65). Madge feigns an attempted sexual assault to punish Jones. The attitude of Madge reveals the true level of manipulation that white individuals attempt to obtain what they want from black people and to advance their personal interests during the war time. Therefore, even though a certain degree of peaceful interracial relations exists, it is primarily driven by the need to use African Americans for some subtle purpose. Having a dominant position in the company is not a guarantee of safety, justice, and respect if those are not supported and promoted by laborers, at least. Moreover, employment alongside white people does not mean the end to racial mistreatments. The job opportunities for African Americans during World War II came with continual racial abuse and discrimination (Boris and Lichtenstein104). For example, a labor union was not strong at the time when Jones was employed; therefore, he could not receive any help or protection. Not many companies at all had labor unions. Marginalized communities used organized anti-racism protests and associations of workers to advance their interests (Boris and Lichtenstein 60). Nevertheless, dictatorship in the employment agencies was fought to promote employees’ welfare. As a result, a Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) was created and later renewed to foster parity in war-related jobs and to address inequalities that had dominated the labor industry (Lichtenstein 85). Consequently, trade unions became more effective in handling mistreatments. African Americans such as Jones could feel unsatisfied and even infuriated at the time when more freedoms and rights were available to them due to the lack of uniform values and attitudes. Race-based treatment negatively impacted African Americans’ experiences at the shipyard. Despite having greater opportunities in terms of employment and wages, they continued to be considered unworthy and at risk of being in trouble without fault. Although Jones stopped himself from raping Madge, no one believed he did not do it as he was black. This unfair accusation led to his attempting murder and losing his job (Himes 188). Consequently, Jones was forced to join the army to escape prosecution. He had no desire to go to war; however, ongoing racism at the shipyard and in the country took away his choice and rights. This incident justifies the fury of African Americans with the way they were perceived and treated during the period. The negative experience of Jones in the novel If He Hollers Let Him Go, exemplifies the tragic endurance of racism in the United States during the war period. The efforts to tame intolerance and racial inequality had contributed to job opportunities and freedoms for African Americans, yet they did not adequately prevent workplace discrimination based on skin color. Disagreements between members of different racial groups almost inevitable ended with troubles for black people only. Consequently, it remained impossible to eradicate racism from society even at that difficult time. African Americans were coerced into joining the U.S. army, as was the case with Jones. In addition, white individuals often befriended them as they needed to exploit them. The outcomes of such race-based incidents deprived the minority of choices in life. For more information please visit https://essaysprofessors.com/