World War I Advertising Poster ‘Colored Man is No Slacker’ circa 1918

These works reflect the experience of African American soldiers during World War I, particularly those who served in segregated military units despite widespread racial discrimination at home. More than 350,000 Black men joined the U.S. military during the war, with approximately 42,000 serving in combat in Europe. Among the most celebrated units was the 369th Infantry Regiment, later known as the Harlem Hellfighters, whose members earned international recognition for their bravery, including Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts, the first Americans awarded the French Croix de Guerre. At the same time, these portrayals reveal the contradiction at the heart of American wartime ideals. Black Americans were called upon to demonstrate patriotism, loyalty, and sacrifice in defense of democracy abroad, even as segregation and unequal treatment remained firmly entrenched within the United States and the military itself. The imagery and messaging surrounding Black soldiers during this period often emphasized unity, courage, and national service while implicitly exposing the hypocrisy of a nation demanding equality overseas without fully granting it at home.