Beyond the Battlefield: African American Soldiers’ Interactions with French Civilians During World War I & Their Influences on Racial Identity, Citizenship, and Activism

Abstract

This thesis explores the complex, interpersonal social dynamics of African American soldiers in France during the First World War. The interactions between African American soldiers and French civilians, French soldiers, and African colonial troops during WWI provided a distinct contrast to the pervasive racism and legalized “Jim Crow” segregation that African Americans faced in America. These eye-opening experiences influenced and challenged their perceptions of racial identity and citizenship, allowing them to imagine a future beyond the confines of the prejudiced American South. Although the war itself resulted in massive casualties for both the Allied and Central Powers and is one deadliest human conflicts on record, it also symbolized a transformative rebirth of optimism and opportunity for the African American community despite the continual enforcement of institutionalized segregation until the Civil Rights Act of 1964, serving as the foundation for the outset of the early Civil Rights Movement, the concept of the “New Negro” identity, and the Harlem Rennaissance of the 1920s. The historical documents of various WWI African American soldiers, scholars, and reporters offer insight into the lived experiences of both the French and American sides of the war, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the social background often understated by historians and WWI enthusiasts alike. This essay explores the interactions of African American soldiers during WWI and explains their importance for the broader implications of post-war racial identity of black Americans, Pan-African activism, and the concept of citizenship.