Here portrays twenty-four mighty and courageous African American women stationed for a photo as they prepare themselves to contribute a portion of their lives to the war efforts. During the historical event of World War II an abundance of new beginnings took place as it opened opportunities for many groups of individuals. The historical piece included depicts the first African American Nurses appointed to contribute themselves to fight for America. Lined up in four rows and strictly uniformed are African American women of all heights and shades, proudly standing together in unity. According to America: A Narrative History “altogether, about a million African Americans—men and women—served in the armed forces during the war.”[1] Previously in the history of wars women specifically were not ordained to participate in the war efforts and were commanded to continue their roles at the home front. World War II provided them with the opportunity to participate in the war in a variety of areas although none being particularly active in battle. Unfortunately, during this period in the United States and in other countries, women and African Americans have been discriminated and oppressed for centuries because of their societal identities. The piece presented specifically offers a change in attitudes towards these societal categories as this photo shares the growth that African American women had in society during World War II.
Although women did not take on specific assignments on the frontlines of battles, they were appointed particular duties. As stated by America: A Narrative History “The war marked a watershed in the status of women. Nearly 350,000 women served in all branches of the armed forces. Some performed clerical work or desk jobs that freed men up to join the ranks. In other cases, however, women served as pilots, drivers, mechanics, air traffic controllers, weather forecasters, translators, or gunnery instructors.”[2] As men took on responsibilities on the forefront there was a plentitude of positions that needed to be fulfilled. Therefore, women were able to perform in these claimed to be ‘manly’ jobs and proved that they could fulfill such tasks. Specifically, even before World War II African American women[3] were occasionally noticed taking on nursing roles attributed to the war. As indicated by the journal article “Black Nurses at the Front”, “the following summaries highlight five black women who served as nurses in three wars—Mary Seacole, who nursed along with Florence Nightingale in the Crimean War; Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Susie King Taylor, who volunteered in the Civil War; and Namahyoke Sockum Curtis, who served in the Spanish-American War.”[4] These notable figures were prominent figures that led African American women towards empowerment and the opportunity to be exhibited in World War II. With their courageous ambitions and humility for themselves they were able to be role models for the future generations of black women.
Furthermore, not only did the war award a new social perspective for women but it also gave woman internal change in how they thought of themselves mentally. The historical source provides a deeper meaning in its message as it portrays women to be risen in this way. Conferred by the journal article “American Women in a World at War” it announces “the lives of American women were dramatically changed by the experience of war. The war transformed the way women thought about themselves and the world in which they lived, expanding their horizons and affording them a clearer sense of their capabilities.”[5] The war gave them a new horizon and perspective on what they were called to do. They were no longer confined to the everyday housewife role but now able to take on new opportunities. Women took much more pride in who they had become and saw themselves in a new light. To continue “in their letters to loved ones, women expressed pride in their war work and often commented, with enthusiasm, about the new sense of responsibility and independence they were achieving.”[6] With all being said women knew that their lives would be transformed. The war proved that they were capable to take on these roles in which in the future lead to greater women movements that were successful.
Although African Americans and women were able to engage in the war, they were left to face the concept of segregation in which means to be set apart from the dominant group—white men, merely because of gender and their societal racial identities. No matter if they were in the country or out of the country “American Women in a World at War” discloses that “the letters of women in uniform contain telling accounts of the courage of African American women as they combated racism at home and fascism abroad.”[7] The war would never have been as effective as it was if they did not have the help of these groups of people. Unfortunately, the people of the United States failed to recognize and appreciate the contributions of African American Women as they continued to face prejudice at home and had to accept the corrupt systems abroad.
African American women continued to be segregated abroad as according to “African Americans and World War II: A Pictorial Essay” “President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WACC), converted fourteen months later to the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) when he signed Public Law 554 on May 4, 1942. The European Theater of operations was the only theater of operations where black WACs could serve.”[8] Branching off from the appointment of the Women’s Army Corps, the group in this historical source was a product of this finding. These twenty-four women are some of the African American nurses that were designated to work at the European Theater of Operations. This snapshot was taken on August 21, 1944, during this time the war was going well for the United States. This piece implies that the snapshot was taken during the 20th century as it was produced in black and white. The symmetric way the women are positioned and centered for the photo shows that it was professionally taken. As the U.S. Signal Corps took this photo, they wanted the women to be presented in uniform and in uniformity to represent the powerful team of nurses in the background that were ready to care for their dear soldiers on the front line. The women are pictured outside on a field or military camp. They are lined up on the grass and utilizing bleachers for leveling in the photo. Their expressions are serious and composed, matching the disciplined structure of the photograph.
When analyzing the photo and the summary of what it is, it gives the names of all these women and one that is highlighted is centered in the front row in the middle. Her name is Captain Mary L. Petty[9]; she was the first African American nurse in the Army Nurse Corps to reach the rank of Captain. Purposefully, it is found that she is centered for this reason. She was able to reach such a high ranking as an African American woman, but for the other members in the photo it is possible they are positioned in this way as they reflect other notable rankings.
[1] David E. Shi et al., America: A Narrative History, 13th ed. (W.W. Norton and Company, 2025), 1165.
[2] David E. Shi et al., America: A Narrative History, 13th ed. (W.W. Norton and Company, 2025), 1163.
[3] 1. Patri O’Gan, “Victory at Home and Abroad: African American Army Nurses in World War II,” National Museum of African American History & Culture, May 8, 2023, https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/nurses-WWII.
[4] Carnegie, M. Elizabeth. “Black Nurses at the Front.” The American Journal of Nursing 84, no. 10 (1984): 1250
[5] Litoff, Judy Barrett, and David C. Smith. “American Women in a World at War.” OAH Magazine of History 16, no. 3 (2002): 12
[6] Litoff, Judy Barrett, and David C. Smith. “American Women in a World at War.” OAH Magazine of History 16, no. 3 (2002): 9
[7] Litoff, Judy Barrett, and David C. Smith. “American Women in a World at War.” OAH Magazine of History 16, no. 3 (2002): 11
[8] Neverdon-Morton, Cynthia. “African Americans and World War II: A Pictorial Essay.” Negro History Bulletin 51/57, no. 1/12 (1993): 8
[9] “Mary L. Petty.” Wikipedia, August 13, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_L._Petty.