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Tag: desegregation

This desegregation article series is dedicated to the all-African American crews of the Coast Guard’s Pea Island Lifeboat Station located in North Carolina. (U.S. Coast Guard)

July 26, 2023

The Long Blue Line: Part III “When I say Americans, I mean all Americans!” — Segregation’s take-down by President Harry Truman

Denial of employment and promotion, and separate dining and restroom facilities often characterized the experience and limited upward mobility for African American workers.

Major Charity Adams inspects arrivals to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, comprised of African American women serving during World War II. (National Archives (531249))

July 24, 2023

The Long Blue Line: Part II — “Available and needed workers have been barred from employment” — the segregated military and civil service environments

The U.S. Revenue Cutter Service (USRCS), predecessor to the United States Coast Guard (USCG), utilized both free and enslaved Black people, and restricted their roles to cooks, stewards and seamen.

The mixed-race crew of African American enlisted men, with white officers and NCOs, on board cutter Yocona in 1919, at the time of the U.S. government’s segregation policy. (U.S. Coast Guard)

July 20, 2023

The Long Blue Line: “There Shall be Equal Opportunity for All” — Why President Truman’s desegregation orders were necessary

On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed a pair of executive orders, the combination of which banned racial segregation in the armed forces and federal civil service.

2. Ensign Harvey Russell after graduating from the Reserve officer Training Course. (Photo courtesy of the Russell Family)

Feb. 19, 2021

The Long Blue Line: Lt. j.g. Harvey Russell--African-American trailblazer in the U.S. Sea Services

Celebrating African American Heritage with the second African American who attended officer candidate school.