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Introduction
The African American soldiers faced adverse racial discrimination during the Civil War. Despite President Lincoln opening doors for the black people to join the Union Army in 1862, these members were segregated on the basis of their skin color. They faced humiliation in terms of duties and privileges that were evident during the battle. There were many problems that the African American group confronted during the fighting then due to the prejudice that was done to them by their white counterparts. These victims of racial injustice were assigned to undertake non-combat laborers and cook duties. In addition, they were only paid $10 per month with $3 as a deduction for clothing. The whites were paid $13, where the aspect of disparity came along. Thus, black soldiers never received any special honor for the hard tasks due to racial discrimination. Rather, their problems continued further, making it clear that the US military administration did not offer equality. African American soldiers contributed in the War by undertaking non-combat tasks and support services but were humiliated due to prejudice, brutality and segregation that were done to them by the white troops.
Challenges Faced and Contributions of African Americans during the Civil War
There were many problems that black troops faced during the Civil War. Due to racial prejudice, they were not allowed to command any army section. Rather, they were non-commissioned officers under the command of white soldiers. There were severe punishments for the African American soldiers when the War had become intense. In hands of the Confederate Army, the black affiliated military personnel handled a significant peril. The intensity of the War led to the collisions that led to the enslavement of many black soldiers until President Lincoln had to pass a General Order 233, which barred any threat that would lead to slavery to the black troops. During the battle, the war-concentrated zones were depicted by African American soldiers as the frontline group that was less armed than white soldiers.
The black captives who were prisoners of War (POW) received harsh treatment compared to white captives. For example, the Confederate Army shot to death African American soldiers who served under the then Union Army after they were captured in Fort Pillow in 1864. That matter sparked a raft of reactions, with President Lincoln facing sanctions from the interest group parties in favor of the affected people. Therefore, from the above elements, it is true that African Americans were humiliated by the white soldiers during the War.
From the records of the Civil War, many African American soldiers served the country. Close to 300,000 black men participated in the battle, all of whom were taken as second-class citizens. It is more significant to be inconsiderate to the black troops than to disregard their efforts to assist in the affairs of the War. In 1863, the Civil War had risen notably in all the affected regions of North and Southern America that the government had to incorporate the black soldiers. However, the majority did not see the essence of recognizing them by treating them fairly.
Part of the reasons why the Civil War escalated was because there was no unity in terms of resources and deployment aspects to soldiers. About 60% of the total black men who served in the military during the Civil War were former slaves. Thus, the ideology of treating people of color unfairly continued during the Civil War. It is important to mention that whenever one seemed to resist the rule under the army, they were taken to prison or killed without any legal process. During the 19th century, black people were considered inferior to whites, which is why the Civil War was characterized by racial prejudice.
The contributions of the African Americans during the Civil War comprised a raft of duties assigned to them by the white commanders. Firstly, the black men served in the artillery, and they backed the military in areas where non-combat techniques were required. In other words, the African American soldiers were like assistant troops to most white soldiers then. For example, it was the duty of African American military personnel to cook for the groups during the War. Secondly, these minority groups served as carpenters, cooks, nurses, scouts, and other specializations that formed skeleton services required during the War. Spies, surgeons, and guards were mainly given to the black people. Only a few black commissioned officers were given the high rank, with black women taking nursing roles. For example, Harriet Tubman was a popular scout during the Civil War then who scouted for the volunteers of the South during the battle.
In addition to the duties mentioned previously, there are examples of black men who extensively formed part of the combat team during the War then. The black infantrymen fought heatedly at Milliken’s Bend, Los Angeles, Nashville, TN, among other phenomenal areas. In 1863, the 54th Volunteers lost about 66% of the officers during the assault of Fort Wagner. Therefore, it is indisputably that African American soldiers had shown significant valor in the War that deserved honor and not mistreatments. The active involvement of black troops in the War made it far less likely to say African Americans were to remain in slavery after the battle. It is essential to mention that black military personnel got involved in the War due to the threats made against their lives. Many black men were killed and others imprisoned during the execution of the threats by the Confederate government.
During the Civil War, African American soldiers faced battles of discrimination in terms of wages, promotions, and medical rights. Despite the promise by the administration to have equality, it was hard for the black men to survive in a white-centered military that perceived them as lesser individuals who would bring a negligible impact on the War. There was the poor provision of services and equipment whereby the victims were subjected to unhealthy foods and inferior allowances. The white soldiers were paid and given cloth allowance while the black personnel would be deducted money to pay for their clothes. In this case, one would wonder what was the line of argument when these discriminatory policies were passed? However, the African American soldiers pressed further to ensure they gave a hand in the War as one way of starting a journey of revolution against racial discrimination.
Additionally, black troops were given menial jobs that proved the humiliations from the majority of white soldiers. Most of the black men kept doing fatigue work, which affected their productivity. The white soldiers whipped the black troops or tied them by their thumbs. As depicted earlier, if captured by the Confederates, there was no negotiation but to execute them. These are various factors that prove to the modern world that racism did not start the other day but rather during the ancient times before even the 20th and 21st centuries. One of the Union line leaders gave a picture of the importance of black soldiers getting involved in the War. The captain said that it was necessary to condemn the brutal degradation done to the African American groups that fought during the War.
As a result of the humiliations that were done by the white military personal, African American soldiers confronted extensive constraints that led to the loss of lives, permanent disability, and psychological torture that developed a negative heritage in terms of racism matters. Despite the vision that Fredrick Douglas had concerning the reinforcement brought along the black troops, the white soldiers did not give any honor to them until 1865, when some members started getting fair treatment. Therefore, the inclusion of black troops in the Civil War benefited the country but posed a threat to racial freedom, more so to the black men.
Conclusion
The African American soldiers were involved in the Civil War by President Lincoln. However, these military personnel never received equal treatment despite their indisputable contributions to the War. The black troops were underpaid and deducted on clothing. They did not get major benefits such as allowances and healthcare privileges. The white soldier would whip the soldiers of African descent. The Confederates executed other black men. The fact that African American soldiers were given menial jobs and disregarded in the battle shows high rates of racial discrimination. Therefore, the racial segregation that is seen today was witnessed before. There is a need to fight for a society that respects the racial affiliation of members to ensure there is equality. When racial prejudice is reduced within the society, humanitarian rights will be upheld hence, improving the dignity for individuals.
Bibliography
Foner, Eric. “Rights and the Constitution in Black Life During the Civil War and Reconstruction”. The Journal of American History 74, no. 3 (1987).
Lovett, Bobby. “African Americans, Civil War, and Aftermath in Arkansas.” The Arkansas Historical Quarterly 54, no. 3 (1995): 304-358. Web.
Mammina, Laura. “In The Midst of Fire and Blood: Union Soldiers, Unionist Women, Military Policy, and Intimate Space During the American Civil War”. Civil War History 64, no. 2 (2018): 146-174.
Reid, Richard M. Freedom for Themselves: North Carolina’s Black Soldiers in the Civil War Era. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2008.
Shaffer, Donald R. “African American Civil War Soldiers”. Journal of American History 105, no. 4 (2019): 1101-1103.
Williams, George Washington. A History of the Negro Troops in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865. New York: Fordham University Press, 2012.
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