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294 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
Black soldiers in the war, declared veteran William N. Colson in the July 1919 issue of the Messenger, "were fighting for France and for their race rather than for a flag which had no meaning." The war had exposed more of the terrain of struggle, wrote Du Bois. "There is not a black soldier but who is glad he went--glad to fight for France, the only real white Democracy, glad to have a new, clear vision of the real inner vision of the real inner spirit of American prejudice. The day of camouflage is past."
Black people had organized enclaves which they were prepared to defend. Their self-defense was pretty much around a house or church, a meeting place. "Self-defense" in the white community is surrounding the courthouse. They were going to degend the courthouse in different ways. I think of us going to the courthouse [with potential registrants] as a nonviolent offensive maneuver. It allowed us to take the offensive and actually attack. You couldn't go to the courthouse with guns and attack."