What was the effect of World War II on African Americans?

According to historians John Hope Franklin and Alfred A. Moss, Jr., more than three million black men registered for the Selective Service. However, they were refused at a rate of 18.2 percent, compared to just 8.5 percent for whites. 

Discrimination was rampant in the armed forces, though black soldiers had more opportunities than in the First World War. They were included in the infantry, the coast and field artillery, the engineer corps, the medical corps,...

According to historians John Hope Franklin and Alfred A. Moss, Jr., more than three million black men registered for the Selective Service. However, they were refused at a rate of 18.2 percent, compared to just 8.5 percent for whites. 

Discrimination was rampant in the armed forces, though black soldiers had more opportunities than in the First World War. They were included in the infantry, the coast and field artillery, the engineer corps, the medical corps, and many other branches. When the Women's Army Corps was organized (WAC), black women were included. By the end of the war, more than 4,000 women had enlisted in the organization. The next step was to get black soldiers recommended for advanced training at officer training schools. Blacks were not admitted to officer training schools in high numbers until the Secretary of War issued an order stating that blacks were to be admitted.

The integration of the military began in 1945, first on the war front in Germany. In 1948, several years after the end of the war, President Truman signed an executive order establishing the President's Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, which committed the government to integrating the armed forces.

Black people were equally generous and committed to the war effort on the home front. They purchased bonds and held rallies in churches, community centers, and schools to sell war bonds.

Due to persistent discrimination and prior disadvantages, black people did not benefit as much as whites from the G.I. Bill. Not as many blacks attended universities in Europe, and, due to rampant discrimination in the housing market, black people did not benefit equally from the government's granting of housing loans. However, the war gave black people yet another opportunity to demonstrate that they were, in many ways, incredibly committed to their country's well-being at home and abroad. The nation, unfortunately, did not share in this commitment to its black populace.