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Volume 12, Issue 4
  • ISSN: 2050-0726
  • E-ISSN: 2050-0734

Abstract

In our research, we prioritize the voices and experiences of Black Second World War soldiers and their experiences while in uniform. We specifically focused on Black men from the Midwest to examine their unique experiences with the South and Jim Crow laws and drew upon all ten oral history transcripts from the University of Kansas’s ‘World War II: The African American Experience’ project. These included individuals such as John H. Adams, a Tuskegee Airmen pilot who did not see combat, and William Tarlton, a member of the famous all-Black 92nd Army Division. Our analysis involved the constant comparative process using open, axial and selective coding, and we applied concepts from critical race theory to unpack the racial injustices embedded in their experiences. Individual accounts reveal the discriminatory treatment endured by Black soldiers in the United States, highlighting derogatory attitudes and forced relocations. While rank hierarchy occasionally superseded prejudices, the experiences demonstrate the persistent racism faced by Black soldiers despite their significant contributions while in uniform. These stories challenge the glorification of Second World War soldiers and shed light on the complex dynamics of racial interactions, emphasizing the need for awareness and dialogue about enduring disparities.

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2025-04-28
2026-04-12

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/content/journals/10.1386/fspc_00320_1
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‘This uniform doesn’t mean anything’: Black Second World War soldiers and their experiences in uniform
Fashion, Style & Popular Culture 12, 515 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1386/fspc_00320_1
/content/journals/10.1386/fspc_00320_1
/content/journals/10.1386/fspc_00320_1
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  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): Black American; critical race theory; dress; Europe; fashion; oral history; Second World War; United States

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