World War II was a significant period in Black history, as African Americans played key roles both on the battlefield and on the home front. Despite facing discrimination and segregation in the military and society at large, over one million African Americans served in the armed forces during World War II.

The most well-known African American unit during the war was the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American pilots who fought in the European theater. Despite facing racism and prejudice, the Tuskegee Airmen achieved an impressive record as bomber escorts, earning the respect of their fellow white pilots.

On the home front, many African Americans contributed to the war effort through industrial work, helping to manufacture tanks, planes, and other essential war materials. The wartime labor shortage also provided new opportunities for Black workers in industries that had previously been resistant to hiring them.

Despite the challenges and injustices they faced during World War II, African Americans' contributions helped to pave the way for greater civil rights advancements in the years that followed, as the sacrifices and patriotism of Black soldiers and workers forced the nation to confront its own contradictions and discrimination.