Discussion – Harlem Hellfighters

Discussion – Harlem Hellfighters

My chosen article, ‘One Hundred Years Ago, the Harlem Hellfighters Bravely Led the U.S. Into WWI’ by Erick Trickey, discusses the Harlem Hellfighters, an African American regiment formally known as the 369th Infantry Regiment, who served with great distinction during World War I. However, in their own country, they were exposed to high levels of racism and segregation in the army, yet once in the war, the hell fighters proved to be a force to reckon with on the battle front lines. The Harlem Hellfighters were attached to the French army, fought alongside them, and treated them better than the Americans (Trickey, 2018). The regiment saw more action than any previous regiment in America and rightly gained acknowledgment for their bravery.

The article also stresses the personal narratives of soldiers, especially heroes such as the African American soldier Henry Johnson, known for courageously driving off the German raid party while under heavy attack and was almost mortally wounded. The French government awarded him the Croix de Guerre for his bravery, but even in the United States, it took several decades for the country to acknowledge his involvement.  The musicianship was also a vital part of the Hellfighters led by James Reese. Europe’s regimental Hell Fighter Band was one of the first jazz bands to take its music to European audiences (Trickey, 2018). These cultural achievements and their military feats turned the Harlem Hellfighters into symbols of success and perseverance.

The article points out that the Harlem Hellfighters contributed significantly not only to the military victory of the Allies during World War I but also to the progress of the Black population’s civil rights. Their courage, determination, and societal contribution fought against the racism of the time, and they became legends. The article states that their efforts were silent for quite some time, but they are getting due credit today. By contributing their service, the Harlem Hellfighters could redefine how the public viewed African Americans and their fighting abilities.

References

Trickey, E. (2018). One Hundred Years Ago, the Harlem Hellfighters Bravely Led the US Into WWI. SMITHSONIAN MAG.(May 14, 2018), https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/one-hundred-years-agoharlem-hellfighters-bravely-led-us-wwi-180968977/[https://perma.cc/QF7K-RPZB].

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Discussion – Harlem Hellfighters

Discussion – Harlem Hellfighters

Find an article (using the Alabama Virtual Library through our website) that focuses on a topic pertaining to the history of Western Civilization (from 1492 through the end of the Cold War in 1991) that you find interesting or compelling. The article may focus on any number of subjects/incidents/trends- the arrival of the Beatles in America in 1964, an earthquake that caused the Mississippi River to actually flow backwards in 1811, an athlete such as Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympic Games, or the invention of the bicycle and how it influenced the women’s movement in the late 1800’s. When you have found an article that you are seriously considering, notify me of your choice through Canvas or email ([email protected]) one week prior to the assignment due date. This is mandatory- failure to do so will ensure that you will receive a zero for the assignment. The article that you select must be at least 4 pages in length and must be from a credible source (History Today, the Smithsonian, American Heritage, Atlantic Monthly, National Geographic, AVL, etc.) Read the article and then, in your own words, summarize the article. Type your summary in paragraph form, double spaced. It should be anywhere from a page to a page and a half in length. Artificial Intelligence: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) should be utilized in completing this assignment. Any students with an AI score from the TurnItIn report will receive a zero for the assignment!