World War II and Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune

Good Day Class,
Our syllabus will change a bit this week. I'm going to go ahead and jump into World War II. After the 1930's and the Great Depression the next major occurrence is the war. During WWII thousands of African Americans went into the war for "Victory Abroad & Victory at Home." Dr. Bethune played a vital role in the war by pushing for the opportunity for African Americans to be involved in pilot training programs and as members of the Women's Army Corp. In fact, before Dr. Bethune's insistence there were to be NO BLACK WOMEN in the Women's Army Corp. "Over 150,000 American women served in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) during World War II. Members of the WAC were the first women other than nurses to serve within the ranks of the United States Army. Both the Army and the American public initially had difficulty accepting the concept of women in uniform."

Please take a moment to read 3 articles detailing African American involvement in the war, Dr. Bethune's involvement with Red Tails and testimony of a female soldier handpicked by Dr. Bethune for the Women's Army Corp.

African American Soldiers In World War II Helped Pave Way for Integration of US Military (1 page)

http://www.voanews.com/content/a-13-2005-05-10-voa47-67929177/396374.html

1.     What change came about in 1941?

2.     Does the term “Double V” mean?

3.     How was the Vietnam War different from World War II?

4.     How do you think the pressure of being the first  group of trained Black pilots affected the Tuskegee Airmen?

3 Women Red Tails Left Out (2 pages)

http://www.theroot.com/views/three-women-red-tails-left-out?page=0,0

1.     How did Bethune’s position as the head of the “Negro Section” of the National Youth Administration (NYA) benefit “Red Tails”?

2.     How did Willa Beatrice Browns position benefit “Red Tails”?

3.     What highly controversial action did First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt do that led to integration of aviation forces?

4.     Why do you think these women have been left out of history? How have the “Red Tails” been perceived in history?

Standing Tall on Giant Shoulders: Dovey Johnson Roundtree and her Debt to Mary McLeod Bethune (2 pages)

 http://www.thecapitalnews.com/standing-tall-on-giant-shoulders-dovey-johnson-roundtree-and-her-debt-to-mary-mcleod-bethune/

1.     How did Dovey Johnson Roundtree initially meet Dr. Bethune?

2.     What was Dr. Bethune’s opinion of military service?

3.     What was Dr. Bethune’s position on African American inclusion in the war versus First Lady Roosevelt’s?

4.     How did Mrs. Roundtree pay Dr. Bethune back?

5.     What was Dr. Bethune’s overall impact on Mrs. Roundtree’s life?