At first the blacks were not allowed in the military, but as soon as The United States realized that they had no chance of winning overseas, the government passed a law saying that all men from ages 21 to 31 could sign up to fight in the war. Even before that blacks were eager to join the war. They thought of this as a way to prove their loyalty and prove that they should be created equal to their country.
During the drafts blacks were told to tear one corner of their cards so that they could easily be identified and separated. The south were known for taking eligible black man's cards and just throwing them away. African Americans that had families and even owned their own farms were drafted before white, single, employees of large plantations.
I think that is really sad that the blacks would do something so patriotic like fight for our country and not even be treated equal or put into slavery. I could see where they were coming from thought, if I was black. I'm pretty sure that I would do anything I possibly could to get the whites to notice how much I deserved to be treated equal of at least like a normal human being.
http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwi/articles/fightingforrespect.aspx
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/2040555068_aa04a29f43.jpg
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