This week, “The Train” is taking a journey to the early 1900’s.

This was a time when Black Americans joined the United States Army and were sent to Europe to fight in World War I (1914-1918).

Many Whites worried, that those soldiers would not be willing to accept their restricted place in American society when they returned form the war.
They decided to create a document, which instructed French officers to “respect” the U.S. Army’s segregation policy, while American soldiers were fighting in France.

This policy would be published in the magazine, The Crisis, May 1919.
According to famed Black American sociologist, author and civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois, editor of The Crisis, this notice was written by French military forces at the request of the U.S. Army. Racial segregation remained the official policy of the U.S. Army until July 1948.

This is the information that was created to keep racism alive and well:

French Military Mission
Stationed with the American Army
Aug 7, 1918
Secret Information
Concerning Black American Troops

1. It is important for French officers who have been called upon to exercise command over Black American troops, or to live in close contact with them, to have an exact idea of the position occupied by Negroes in the United States.

The information set forth in the following communication ought to be given to these officers and it is to their interest to have these matters known and widely disseminated.

It will devolve likewise on the French Military Authorities, through the medium of the French Military Authorities, through the medium of the Civil Authorities, to give information on this subject to the French population residing the cantonment occupied American Colored troops.

2. The American attitude upon the Negro question may seem a matter for discussion to many French minds.

But we French are not in our province if we undertake to discuss what some call “prejudice.” American opinion is unanimous on the “Color Question” and does not admit of any discussion.

The increasing number of Negroes in the United States would create for the White race in the Republic a menace of degeneracy were it not that an impassable gulf has been made between them.

As this danger does not exist for the French race, the French public has become accustomed to treating Negroes with familiarity and indulgence.

This indulgence and this familiarity are matters of grievous concern to the Americans. They consider them an affront to their national policy. They are afraid that contact with the French will inspire in Black Americans aspirations which to them (the Whites) appear intolerable.

It is of the utmost importance that every effort be made to avoid profoundly estranging American opinion.

Although a citizen of the United States, the Black man is regarded by White Americans as an inferior being with whom relations of business or service only are possible. The Black is constantly being censured for his want of intelligence and discretion, his lack of civic and profession conscience and for his tendency toward undue familiarity. The vices of the Negro are a constant menace to the American who has to repress them sternly.

For instance, the Black American troops in France have, by themselves, given rise to as many complaints for attempted rape as all the rest of the Army. And yet, the Black American soldiers sent to us have been the choicest with respect to physique and morals, for the number disqualified as the time of mobilization was enormous.

Make a point of keeping the native cantonment population from “spoiling” the Negroes. White Americans become greatly incensed at any public expression of intimacy between White women in a “cabinet particulier” with a Negro.

Familiarity on the part of White women with Black men is furthermore a source of profound regret to our experienced colonials who see in it a menace to the prestige of the White race.

The vices of the Negro are a constant menace to Americans who have to repress them sternly.

We must not comment too highly on the Black American troops, particularly in the presence of White Americans. We must keep them down as we seem them as a menace to the prestige of the White race.

Well, that was a long time ago. What do you think? Has it changed? Until next time I’ll plant U now and dig U later. Peace and chicken grease.

Hugh Burrell can be contacted at (313) 872-3437 or e-mailed Hughburrell@aol.com.