Norms Under Fire, Part 1

Episode 5: Perhaps no event changes a society more completely than war. Long-established cultural norms and accepted public policies can buckle under the stress of extended conflict. Indeed, WWII would change several long-held beliefs of the American public.

In the next two episodes, we will examine how the war changed our perceptions of what minorities and women were capable of: both on the battlefield and the home front. Through their stories of challenge and triumph, we will see how the marginalized defied expectations, and in doing so, charted a new path forward for the generations that followed.

Today host Bill Ellison will be joined by two scholars: Dr. Douglas Bristol and Dr. Kenneth Swope of the Dale Center. Dr. Bristol will discuss the rapidly evolving role of African-American Soldiers during WWII and the challenges they faced. While Dr. Swope will recount the unparalleled bravery of Japanese Americans fighting in the European Theater.

To their comments, we will add the memories of Mississippians, and others, who trained here before going on to serve their nation with distinction and honor, including: Bidwell Barnes of Gulfport, C. R. Cadenhead of Gulfport, Jerry Clower of East Fork, James Jones of Laurel, Robert Leslie of New Castle, PA, LaMont Martin of Gulfport, Herbert Sasaki of San Francisco, and Lee Spearman of Bay Springs.

Special thanks to the Mississippi Humanities Council for their unwavering support of the Center for Oral History & Cultural Heritage through the years. The Humanities are for Everyone!

WARNING: CONTAINS RACIALLY EXPLICIT LANGUAGE.