On June 7, 1917, all American men between the ages of 21 and 30 were ordered under the authority of the Selective Service Act for compulsory registration for military duty. At that time, the United States had only a small volunteer standing army of about 100,000 men who were not prepared or equipped for the conflict occurring in Europe.

By the end of World War I, 24 million males nationwide were matriculated into the roster of those eligible for immediate military service. Of those scores of millions, 10 percent, 2.4 million Black American males answered that call.

What was envisioned by African American community leaders to be that one brief shining moment delivering universal racial equality in the United States ended in harsh realities and the tarnished truth.

The overwhelming majori

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