The
war was portrayed as a conflict between democracy and
authoritarianism. When America joined the conflict, President
Wilson emphasized even further this posture of idealism.
Americans viewed the war as the last war--the war which would
make the world "safe for democracy."
The Afro-American community remained oblivious to the hostilities
in Europe and was late in becoming aware of the imminence of
war. Negroes were preoccupied with the racial harassments
confronting them at home and seldom looked beyond the country's
borders. Once America became involved in the fighting, however,
they were eager to demonstrate that they were patriotic and loyal
citizens. Even W. E. B. DuBois, who was as hostile and angry as
any, came to support the war effort. In an article which he wrote
in Crisis, he called for his brothers to close ranks with the
rest of American society and to present a solid front against the
enemy. This patriotic solidarity came in spite of the fact that
segregation was creeping into the Federal Government itself.
President Taft, who had tried to broaden the base of the
Republican Party in the South, had made some feeble beginnings
at instituting segregation in federal facilities in Washington.
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