African Americans played essential roles during World War II, contributing significantly to the war effort both at home and abroad. Over a million African American soldiers served in various capacities, including combat roles where they fought bravely in segregated units like the Tuskegee Airmen. On the home front, African Americans worked in defense industries, filling labor shortages and contributing to the war economy. Their involvement in the war helped lay the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement that followed, as the fight for equality was galvanizing during and after the war.