The civil rights movement in the United States gained new momentum after World War II because of African Americans who had served in the military.
The war was fought over the issue of racism, as well as over other factors. When African Americans were drafted into the army, they were segregated from white soldiers and made to do menial tasks such as KP duty or latrine cleaning. They were also forbidden from fighting alongside white soldiers in combat situations. These policies were enforced by white officers who viewed blacks as inferior beings who did not deserve equal treatment. However, African Americans proved themselves more than capable of serving their country during World War II, winning hundreds of medals for bravery and heroism.
The fact that these men were treated so poorly just because of their race incensed many African Americans, who began to demand equality in America once again after the war ended. In 1945, Jackie Robinson became the first black man to play baseball in Major League Baseball since 1884 (when Cap Anson refused to play against Moses Fleetwood Walker).
The end of World War II brought many changes to American society, including an increased awareness of racial discrimination and segregation.
African Americans also sought equal treatment under the law through legal challenges. In 1946, for example, a Supreme Court ruling declared laws requiring separate schools for black and white children unconstitutional — a decision that was confirmed by another court decision in 1954.
