The Double Victory Campaign first appeared in The Courier during the time of World War 2. Blacks were supposed to fight for the needs of America and Americans, however, they were still discriminated against at home. They wanted to receive full rights for citizenship and to be treated equally. If they were fighting for a country, they wanted the rights of everyone else in that country as well. They were fighting against Hitler and fighting for being accepted as equals.


The Double Victory Campaign became known all over the nation. In the blink of an eye, numerous black newspapers all over America were supporting the campaign and trying to make a difference. Issues such as discrimination in the army against blacks were one of the biggest things that triggered the Double Victory Campaign. They were made to do jobs no one else wanted or jobs that made them out to be inferior, such as serving other soldiers.


This was because some parts of the military didn't want blacks placed in their branch. Because of this few blacks even were able to join into the military. Blacks also had to deal with harassment, segregation at home and not being able to vote. This campaign was started by a man who goes by the name of James G Thompson. James wrote a letter to the editor of The Courier, this letter was entitled "Should I Sacrifice To Live 'Half American?'".



 African Americans in the 1940s were involved in fighting two wars. As participants in World War II, they fought enemy dictators abroad in Europe, the Pacific, and North Africa. However, they also fought racial discrimination in the Armed Forces and on the home front. African American soldiers noted the irony of their role in fighting for democracy and freedom abroad though they did not receive the full benefits of such things themselves at home in the United States.


On the home front, African Americans sought equal consideration for jobs both in the
military and in civilian roles. As the war proceeded, factory jobs were left vacant at a
time when production needed to increase. For this reason, African Americans did find
more jobs open to them during the war, but what would happen when soldiers returned
home?

In the military, African Americans also struggled to overcome harassment and discrimination.



Few African Americans achieved entrance into the Navy, the Marines, or the Air Force because these branches did not want Black recruits. 



Therefore, most African American soldiers served in the Army. There, they faced discrimination in training, living quarters, and duty assignments. African American soldiers in the Navy were often forced to serve as cooks, dishwashers, and busboys. In other words, they were “messmen” – working in the mess areas (dining room and kitchen) of the ship. 



Black soldiers in the Army served in segregated units. At the beginning of World War II there were only 5 commissioned African American officers who were at least second lieutenants in rank.



The Armed Forces claimed that integrating the military would result in a decline in

morale and would create discipline problems. They tried to limit African American
enlistment, or quickly rejected African American recruits because of disease or illiteracy.


However, as the conflict grew, the military found that they needed 

the help of African American soldiers more than ever before. The military realized that in order to win the war, they would have to allow African-Americans to serve in combat positions alongside white troops. The Army reactivated the 92nd and 93rd Infantry divisions – the only two African American infantry divisions in World War I. 



Still, many of the white officers employed to oversee and train the troops were weak as commanders. Likewise, the commanders often lacked faith in their troops simply because they were Black. Low expectations and low morale created difficulties for the African American troops and sometimes affected their combat performance.

Nevertheless, the 92nd Infantry division proved themselves in combat in Italy, while other
Black soldiers proved their bravery in Normandy and in other battles.