Final answer:
The Vietnam War had a significant impact on black participation in the armed forces, leading to changes and challenges in racial dynamics. Black soldiers accounted for a disproportionate number of combat deaths, and the Department of Defense instituted a lottery system within the draft to address the imbalance. Racial tensions that had been happening at home also erupted in Vietnam, leading to a race riot.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Vietnam War had a significant impact on black participation in the armed forces. Prior to the Vietnam War, the military was officially segregated, and African Americans faced discrimination and limited opportunities in the military. However, the war brought about changes and challenges to the racial dynamics within the armed forces.
During the war, black soldiers accounted for a disproportionate number of combat deaths compared to their percentage in the population. In an attempt to address this imbalance, the Department of Defense instituted a lottery system within the draft in 1969. This meant that black soldiers were more likely to be drafted and sent to Vietnam.
In Vietnam, racial tensions that had been simmering in the United States erupted, leading to a race riot at a U.S. Army stockade. In response, many black soldiers formed organizations to protect themselves and represent their collective interests. The Vietnam War marked the first major conflict in which black soldiers were fully integrated, although complete equality and substantive integration were not achieved.