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History in the Making

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The intention of this paper is to explore what is currently known about the United Service Organizations (USOs) established for Black enlisted service members during the home front era of World War II (1941-1945). As USO locations provided recreational and support services for military personnel they simultaneously demonstrated steady resistance, resiliency, and agency facing segregation and discrimination. Through activism within the civic and community arenas, paired at times with civil disobedience and militancy, the USO support for Black enlisted members was secured. Though generally not well documented, this topic will concentrate on one USO for Black troops located in Indio, California on Requa Street in Southern California’s Inland Empire. While few resources illuminating this subject are available, primary source newspaper articles were relied upon extensively for Indio’s Requa Street USO as no formal historical submission to the national organization of the USO was found. These resources provide for analysis of designated USOs and Black troops roles, during an era of legislative protection for segregation. Broadening the legacy of Black troops’ military service to America defending democracy overseas while simultaneously fighting for a domestic victory stateside of freedoms for all Americans.

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