Statewide County HI Archives News.....African Americans in Hawaii, Part IV June 12, 2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/hi/hifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 June 17, 2008, 5:04 pm Keepers Of The Culture, A Study In Time Of The Hawaiian Islands June 12, 2008 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 June 12, 2008. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Hawai'i A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands African Americans in the Hawai'ian Islands -- Part 4. by Darlene E. Kelley ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Part 4. African Americans In the Hawai'ian islands. The earlier African Americans before the annexation of Hawai'i to the United States did not experience the problens that the African Americans did in the United States. They blended into society of the islands. They lived under contract and freedom. Even though some lived under poor wages, they had the freedom of the Islands where they could at least prosper and care for their families. It was not until the annexation and the military involvement that they started to feel the effects of prejudice. In 1917, during World War I, over 200 African Americans were stationed in Hawai'i. They were of the 25th Infantry Unit of the so called Buffalo Soldiers. They were stationed there because of the War Department feared the likelihood of racial incidents from White Officers and personell, as well as civilians. They felt that these soldiers would blend into the already mixed racial peoples. As it was they were complimented and commendated for their peaceful and honorable service. Only one man had to be chastised. Then the United States decided in Court that up until then the African American was protected uner the 14th Amendment, even then they failed to recognize that they were U.S. Citizens. They could not sue in Court. ++++++++++++++++++++ A distinguished African American by the name of Charles Cottrill was supported by President William Taft to be tax collector for the Hawai'ian Territory in 1911. ( This today, is called the Internal Revenur Service ).He brought his wife and son with him. His son attended Punahou School. Of course, Cotrill was a socialite who enjoyed the privileges provided by prestigious country clubs and socialized with top business executives associated with Hawai'i's top five corporations, who were the family members of the first missionaries who came to Hawai'i in 1821. He left the Hawai'ian Islands in 1915, when President Wilson sent him to Ohio, where he continued his political career. ++++++++++++++++++++ Once more, in 1941, at the outbreak of World War II, there was another mass movement including the City and County government of Honolulu. The Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, the central council of Hawai'ian organizations, and several unions, tried to discourage the War department from sending a labor battalion of 600 African Americans to unload ships. Yet with the coming World War II, several thousand African American men and some women came to help the war effort as soldiers and defense workers. During this period, there was much friction between Caucasions and African American soldiers manifesting in fights, racial slurs and near riots. The Army, Navy, and Marine corps generally maintained separate ( segregated ) living quarters. Only at Schofield Barracks could men live, work, and play together without friction. Unfortunately, as military established itself in the 1940'sand more tourists began to arrive, the local populace learned indirectly, often through rumor and hearsay, more about African Americans and their inferior status on the Mainland. The consequence was the subtle adaption of attitudes and stereotypes from the dominent economic and socially acceptable whites. Moreover, the media perpetuated the latent anti-black sentiment of the mainland press by reprinting stories which presented the African American in negative stereotypes identifying him/her by race whenever a crime was committed by pointed labeling. Likewise, news and reports from the Maineland of lynching and riots were sensational in contrast with the relative harmony. Fortunately, the result of these often latent anti-black feelings brought by the multitude of Mainland Caucasians has not developed into the crystallized predjudice often found on the Mainland, but has nevertheless manifested with some local people in the form of aversion in varying degrees. During the 1940's and 1950's for example, for some Japanese." on the spot "; after the attack on Pearl Harbor, it was deemed " indiscreet " to be friendly with African Americans and it was known that the FBI opposed an affinity between them and the suspected recalcitrant Black group. Other instances of this aversion were patterns of discrimination in hiring, refusal of service at some restaurants, barber shops and taverns to African Americans, reluctance to rent housing units, sell leasehold fee property to them, and the denial of cordiality generally given by the average local person to a white person. There was also the ostracism of women who dared to date African American men. However, this was no different then what was being experienced in the United States cities across the nations. Especially within the areas where the military personnel was stationed. The soldier, sailor, marine, African American civilian, war worker, nurse ; if they were of African descent, they were expected to have their place in the back of the bus, or in special places in the restaurants. There were several blocks of housing within Pearl Harbor for the black civilian workers and places of business within the area. After the war, conditions became less strained when most African Americans returned to the mainland. Those who remained and those who arrived subsequently most often blended into the local community sine there was no defined black neighborhood or community as this was torn down. Many have become active business persons, government employees and a few have had successful careers in politics, musicians, entertainers and education. +++++++++++++++++++ Doris " Dorie " Miller enlisted in the Navy in 1939 and was made a mess attendant in the United States " Jim Crow " Navy. Miller was eventually elevated to Cook, Third Class. He was eventually assigned to the USS West Virginia stationed in Hawai'i. Miller was abroad the West Virginia on December 7, 1941, when it was subjected to a suprise attack by Japan. During the attack, Miller secured an unattended anti-aircraft gun and began firing at Japenese war planes. Miller shot down at least one Japanese Aircraft before he ran out od ammunition and was ordered to abandon ship. Although Miller's courage under fire was initially overlooked, the black press seized his story and pressured the Navy to recognize him. On May 27, 1942, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz awarded Miller the Navy Cross. During the spring of 1943, Miller was assigned to the Liscome Bay and was still serving as a messenger n the warship, despite his previous heroism, when the carrier was sunk in the Gilbert Islands in 1943. In addition to the Navy Cross, Miller received the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal-- Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. In 1973, the Knox-class frigate USS MILLER was named for Doris " Dorie " Miller. Oscar Award winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. portrayed Miller in the 2001 movie " Pearl harbor." and i 1991. the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority dedicated a bronze commemorative plaque of Miller at the Miller Family Park located on the U.S. Naval Base, Pearl Harbor. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Additional articles will be added as research is found. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/hi/statewide/newspapers/africana12nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/hifiles/ File size: 8.2 Kb