Numerous factors impacted the Wilmington area’s Black communities on the World War II home front, underscored by racial segregation.
Wilmington’s recent designation as America’s first World War II Heritage City was based on wartime contributions and history preservation.
During WWII our area, like the south, practiced institutional segregation. Race relations were matter-of-fact and good or bad, depending on viewpoints and restrictions. Life proceeded for both whites and Blacks, separately mostly, together when necessary.
Race divided the public but remarkably hardly affected our successful war effort role.
Black citizens, while enduring discrimination, maintained positive morale, patriotically worked for national victory, and yearned for racial victory - the “Double V campaign.”