Final answer:
W.E.B. Du Bois saw WWI as an opportunity for African Americans to advance civil rights by demonstrating patriotism and capability. The injustice at home compared to more equal treatment abroad fueled expectations of social change.
Step-by-step explanation:
During World War I, W.E.B. Du Bois and other African American leaders saw the conflict as a crucial opportunity for Black Americans to demonstrate their patriotism and their capability as citizens, in hopes of earning greater civil and social rights upon their return.
African Americans served valiantly in a segregated military, gaining a sense of empowerment and an understanding of freedom and democracy through experiences with different cultures that treated them more equally, particularly in Europe.
This pivotal role in the war effort, juxtaposed with the systemic racism and segregation they faced at home, led to a logical expectation that their service would catalyze social change and facilitate progress in the fight for equality, laying the groundwork for the modern civil rights movement.
During World War II, the Double V campaign became a symbol of the ongoing struggle for Black Americans, who worked industrially to support the war effort while simultaneously fighting for an end to racial inequality.
The government's response, including Executive Order 8802 and the establishment of the Fair Employment Practice Committee (FEPC), was seen as a provisional step towards that goal.
But the return of African American servicemen, combined with the migration of southern Blacks to the North, and the active stance of civil rights organizations, created a significant push towards the advocacy of civil rights post-World War II.