Final answer:
The 'Double V' campaign championed by the Pittsburgh Courier advocated for victory over fascism abroad and racial discrimination at home during World War II, leading to a movement toward equality and civil rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pittsburgh Courier's "Double V" Campaign
The Pittsburgh Courier's "Double V" campaign fought for victory over two fronts: fascism abroad and discrimination at home. African Americans, who were enlisting to fight in World War II, faced a paradox of fighting for freedom overseas while enduring racial injustice in their own country.
The term 'Double V' stood for two victories: one against the fascism of the Axis powers, and the other against domestic racial inequalities. This movement aimed to achieve true democracy by advocating for desegregation and equal rights.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt responded by prohibiting racial discrimination in federal agencies and war industry jobs, while President Truman later banned segregation in the armed forces. The NAACP membership surged, and voter drives increased registration among eligible black voters, setting the stage for the subsequent Civil Rights Movement.
During WWII, many African Americans also contributed on the home front as workers, rationing food and gasoline, and purchasing victory bonds. The Congress of Racial Equality was formed, advocating for nonviolent action to combat segregation. Despite facing racial violence and riots, the urgency for equality that the war ignited continued post-war, leading to significant social transformations in the following decades.