Analysis – The Negro Soldier
Part I: Parts of the argument of The Negro Soldier
- The opening text – “All other film comes from official War Department films, newsreels, United Nations sources and captured enemy material”
PART I: CHURCH SERMON
Argument: Black civilians showing gratitude and respect for colored men and women of the Armed Forces
- Fighting in war is necessary because of the racist policies of Hitler
PART II: Importance of Blacks to American History
- Blacks have played an important part in all aspects of American history, from the Revolutionary War to World War I
- Prominent blacks exist in all arenas of art, science, literature, industry, and more
PART III: Evils of the Axis menace
- Japan, Germany and Italy are shown to terrorize people all over the world, including blacks
- France’s black WWI monuments blown up
PART IV: Joy and Pride of the American Military Experience
- African-Americans can find a sense of purpose, discipline and joy by joining the military
- It is a difficult process, but it makes a polite, respectful but tough man out of recruits
- Blacks are rewarded and brought into a community of fellow men and women without discrimination
EPILOGUE
- War is hell, but the participation of black soldiers can help to turn the tide
- Civilians and soldiers alike all fight for their freedoms, encouraged to join the glorious military in order to secure liberty and victory
Part II: Analysis of Authority of The Negro Soldier
The propaganda documentary film is a fascinating mixture of real footage and specially targeted rhetoric designed for a single purpose. In the case of Stuart Heisler’s US War Department film The Negro Soldier, the purpose of the film was to recruit African-Americans into the Armed Forces to help win the fight in World War II. This was done by providing a surprisingly sensitive and sophisticated portrait of black people that was relatively unprecedented at the time – instead of being horribly caricatured dunces, African-Americans of all ages and genders are shown in a positive, respectful light. Combining this respect for blacks with a clear depiction of the evils of the Axis forces and the glory of serving one’s country, Heisler’s film provides a dogmatic, idealized version of race relations in America in order to convince blacks to join the army.
Right from the start, The Negro Soldier appeals to authority with its opening text - “All other film comes from official War Department films, newsreels, United Nations sources and captured enemy material.” Here, the filmmakers show the audience that, except for the blatantly dramatized segments, a vast majority of the footage in the film is real (thus convincing their audience to believe it is true). In the film’s first section, this more positive attitude toward blacks is demonstrated –the church itself is mostly black, with a strong, articulate black preacher leading a sermon (and thus narrating the film). The men and women he references are established as members of the armed forces, and are given copious amounts of respect in serene close-ups that allow each figure to be seen in their full glory. These methods ensure that black audiences will feel respected and uplifted by the arguments of the film, and not patronized to.
World War II and American history themselves are recontextualized as black issues in this film, providing its audience with the necessary context to feel patriotism for America and feel the need to fight in World War II. The pastor reads from Mein Kampf (established visually through fades as the German version of the US Constitution), telling his congregation of the evil racism that Hitler demonstrates through his treatment of blacks as “half apes.” In this way, blacks are motivated to join the fight against Hitler not just because of his evil policies, but because he specifically hates blacks. In another sequence, important black people are shown in all major conflicts and areas of American history, showing that the history of America and African-Americans are inextricably tied, and that they hold an important set of common experiences with the rest of America.
Sports is one significant way in which The Negro Soldier convinces its audience that a) they should be proud of America and b) they should help win the fight against the Nazis. Using documentary footage of the famous Joe Louis vs. Max Schmelling fight to symbolically show a black man fighting the Nazis and winning, the film frames this boxing match as a microcosm for World War II. Later in the film, black athletes in the Berlin Olympics are shown to beat Japanese and German Olympians in activities such as the high jump, subtly indicating America’s inherent superiority over them (thanks to the contributions of black people). By using such familiar frameworks as sports and church to get black people accustomed to the idea of beating Hitler, the divide between civilian and military life is lessened further.
With these arguments and more, The Negro Soldier says that not only are black people worthy of respect and admiration, they should use their stellar intelligence, sensitivity and patriotism to fight the Nazis (who stand against everything they do). Heisler’s use of documentary footage, combined with elegantly filmed dramatic sequences, liken the everyday experiences of church, family and sports to the family of the military and the pride of fighting for America. Placing them against an implacable enemy that directly wishes the African-American people harm, The Negro Soldier motivates blacks to get the respect they have long been missing by fighting for America in World War II.
Works Cited
US National Archives, The Negro Soldier. 1944.
