Issued on July 26, 1948, Harry Truman’s Executive Order 9981 eradicated segregation in military. The response from the military units, however, ranged from muted to outright hostility. This was no surprise. Truman’s decision & the reactions to it symbolized Black Americans’ broad struggle for dignity, respect, opportunity, and freedom in the United States of America.
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In the final days of the 1948 election, President Harry S. Truman made an historic campaign appearance in Harlem, becoming the first U.S. president to visit the symbolic capital of Black America. The invitation came from Anna Arnold Hedgeman, a Black American political operative who led his campaign's efforts to connect with the Black community.
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Truman's victory in the race was secured by a narrow margin nationwide, partly due to the support from the Black electorate and Hedgeman's efforts. However, his civil rights program faced significant obstacles and failed to gain traction. To effect change, Truman had to resort to executive orders, cajoling, and arm-twisting from that point onward.
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After issuing Executive Order 9981 to desegregate the armed forces, Truman began the hard work. To achieve full integration, Truman needed cooperation from the military's four branches.
In early 1949, he emphasized his desire for collaboration, stating, "I want the job done... and I want it done in a way so that everyone will be happy to cooperate to get it done."
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Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco
RevJeber