MovieChat Forums > Saving Private Ryan (1998) Discussion > Black American soldiers were there on Ju...

Black American soldiers were there on June 6, 1944!!!

posted 8 years ago by candy228
21 replies | jump to latest

Black American soldiers (the 320th Anti-Aircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion and the 327th Quartermaster Service Company) were involved in the D-Day Invasion (Omaha and Utah beaches) on June 6, 1944, https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/13638358-black-soldiers-on-d-day-we-were-there (Black soldiers on D-Day: “We Were There.”). White photographers who were there refused to film and take photos of black fighting men in the Invasion of Normandy and Battle of Iwo Jima.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btGARwERj5I&t=13s

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO__qae2DgI (Go to 1:10 on the video)

Black American soldiers were involved fighting the Nazi soldiers in the Battle for Castle Itter that why there no movie made about it, http://www.historynet.com/the-battle-for-castle-itter.htm.

White racist auditions don't want to see black soldiers or black people in World War 2 movies and tv shows even though there were black soldiers in combat in World War 2. Racist Steven Spielberg, Racist Tom Hanks and Racist Clint Eastwood deliberately left out black American soldiers in their World War 2 movies and tv mini-series ("Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific" on HBO) to make hero out of white American combat troops in World War 2.

The racist thinking of majority of white people that they won World War 2 WITHOUT black people and World War 2 was a "White Man’s War".

There is not a single war in American history that black Americans did not participate in (whether free or not).

1. http://www.nationalbcc.org/news/beyond-the-rhetoric/1031-hbos-lily-white-world-war

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvGGFRGLZUQ (Click on "SHOW MORE")

[–] alcoraces 8 years ago

Actually, the vast majority of white people don't care what colour the soldiers were that fought in WW2. They only care that we won and we are free to form our own opinions on the topic.

[–] candy228 8 years ago

"Actually, the vast majority of white people don't care what colour the soldiers were that fought in WW2."

Please explain to me in ALL of the World War 2 movies and tv shows based on true historical events they didn't show black American soldiers on them??

Please don't tell me they didn't know black American soldiers were in combat in World War 2.

Majority of white people hate black people. If it's not true, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood would have shown black American soldiers in their World War 2 movies and tv mini-series ("Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific"). They were told black American soldiers were in combat in the Invasion of Normandy, Battle of Iwo Jima and Battle of the Bulge. Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood wanted to make hero out of white American soldiers in combat in World War 2 and the racist thinking of majority of white people in the U.S. don't want to see black soldiers or black people in World War 2 movies and tv shows based on true historical events.

Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Clint Eastwood TOLD A BIG FAT LIE saying "black soldiers WERE NOT in combat in World War 2" the reason why they didn't show black soldiers in their World War 2 movies and tv mini-series ("Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific")!!! They wanted to rewrite the history of World War 2 that white people won the war WITHOUT black people.

Black American soldiers were there in combat on D-Day Invasion (Omaha and Utah beaches) June 6, 1944, Battle of Iwo Jima and Battle of the Bulge, http://www.historynet.com/the-wereth-11-a-little-known-massacre-during-the-battle-of-the-bulge.htm.

[–] Dave-R011 8 years ago

There were no African-American Airborne or Rangers. This is historical fact. No Black troops landed with the first waves at Normandy. All the post-landing scenes involve either Rangers or Airborne so there's no real opportunity to show any Black troops.

There was only a very small number of African-Americans allowed to become Marines and they only were permitted to enter combat very late in the war. One would need to look very hard indeed to find them on a battlefield of tens of thousands of White soldiers and as it happened, no Blacks were involved in the real life situations shown in The Pacific or Flags - though contrary to the claims of some, Eastwood did briefly show some Black troops in his film.

[–] Lyndhen 8 years ago

while it's true that there were no African American soldiers on the sixth of June, barrage balloons (mentioned by the OP) were shown in the film (before the mission briefing scene) and there was therefore an opportunity to give an historically accurate depiction of black troops.

It might have been a token gesture to show black troops working in the background but it would have been worthwhile, just as it was worthwhile to show a Jewish gravestone in the cemetery to make the very important point that Jews were active combatants in WW2 and not just victims of the holocaust.

[–] Dave-R011 8 years ago

Yes because blatant tokenism in order to satisfy the ego of a racial bigot internet poster years after the movie's release is totally worth the effort.

[–] Vulcans_Rule 8 years ago

While showing black combat troops in the first wave would have been clearly inaccurate, showing a few black service troops unloading ships or setting barrage balloons after the initial combat scene, would have added some trendy modern diversity without violating history. For example, this could have been shown when Miller is choosing who will go with him to look for Ryan.

They could have shown British coxswains, too. And omitted the mis-timed slur towards Monty.

 Entropy ain't what it used to be.

[–] Lyndhen 8 years ago

I don't think it's trendy modern diversity to show a bit of historical depth. For example it was laudable and not trendy to show the star of David in the cemetery.

SPR is apparently loaded with references to more than a dozen other films. It's a great pity that the filmmakers couldn't reference actual history.

[–] Dave-R011 8 years ago

There are likely enough Jewish graves there that it might be hard not to show one. It may also be that Spielberg is Jewish. I might note that is is highly likely that more Jewish-Americans died in Normandy than African-Americans given that few Blacks were permitted in combat units.

There wouold have been no Blacks on the beach at that time or in the other combat situations or in the Ranger or Airborne rear areas. There's simply no in-story reason for any African-American characters or extras.

[–] candy228 8 years ago

"There wouold have been no Blacks on the beach at that time or in the other combat situations or in the Ranger or Airborne rear areas. There's simply no in-story reason for any African-American characters or extras."

Did you watch the videos, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btGARwERj5I&t=13s ("World War II- The Beaches at Normandy") and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO__qae2DgI ("A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-day")??

It looks like the answer is no. You don't want to hear the truth that black American soldiers WERE THERE on D-Day, June 6, 1944 and not only that on the video "A Distant Shore: African Americans of D-day" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO__qae2DgI starting at 1:10, black American combat troops were among the FIRST TROOPS to set foot on the Normandy Beachhead!! Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks wasn't going to show that in the movie opening scene landing on Omaha Beach in "Saving Private Ryan".

This movie was clearly inaccurate and the members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences knew it was inaccurate that why this racist movie "Saving Private Ryan" didn't win Best Picture Oscar and Tom Hanks didn't win the Oscar for Best Actor.

Black World War 2 veterans were OUTRAGE at Racist Steven Spielberg and Racist Tom Hanks. They are still OUTRAGE.

The racist thinking of majority of white people that they won World War 2 WITHOUT black people and white people love to take the credit for everything. No other races exist.

[–] nickm2 8 years ago

Were they storming 'Dog' with the rangers?

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

[–] Dave-R011 8 years ago

I don't get my history from You-tube videos. I get it from books - books with proper citations, bibliographies, and peer review. The only Black combat arms unit that landed that day was a barrage balloon unit that came ashore after the fighting on the beach was over. Even if that were not correct, the fact is that no Blacks landed with the Rangers or the Airborne - the people this story is about.

As for Black veteran outrage - odd that they didn't complain when the film was released. For that matter, the only outrage I've ever heard is from one or two posters here on imdb.

As for not winning the Oscar, do note it went to a film that was just as White - Shakespeare in Love, which didn't show a single person of colour even though Black people lived in the London of the time.

[–] Vulcans_Rule 8 years ago

I'm not sure candy228 understands what you are telling him. His reply was not a logical response to what you actually posted.

You are correct that it would have been inaccurate to show blacks on the beach during the opening scene, the famous first 15 minutes of this movie. But there is another brief scene on or near the beach set days later. That scene could have shown some blacks in the background, although not among the Rangers.

Of course, the movie has numerous inaccuracies anyway.

 Entropy ain't what it used to be.

[–] Dave-R011 8 years ago

They could have found a way to show African-American troops. The question would be what story reason would there be to show them? I don't think adding a Token Negro scene wold have done any good here.

[–] Vulcans_Rule 8 years ago

It would not have materially changed the story, so most viewers would not care much either way. But it seems candy228 might have appreciated the nod to multiracial contributions to victory. Also might have been pretty cool to see a barrage balloon go up.

 Entropy ain't what it used to be.

[–] nickm2 8 years ago

But that would involve indulging candy228's childish tantrum. Come to think of it, for some reason Candy's behavior reminds me of Trigglypuff:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=trigglypuff

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

[–] Vulcans_Rule 8 years ago

Please explain to me in ALL of the World War 2 movies and tv shows based on true historical events they didn't show black American soldiers on them?

Red Tails and Tuskegee Airmen come to mind as movies based on historical events that showed black Americans in combat. The reason these are exceptional in showing blacks in combat is because it was exceptional for blacks to be used in combat. The units were not integrated then, and almost all combat units were white.

Racism of the period is the primary cause, not racism among modern movie makers.

Majority of white people hate black people.

That's blatant racism on your part.

 Entropy ain't what it used to be.

[–] ABBEY1227-1 8 years ago

The reason these are exceptional in showing blacks in combat is because it was exceptional for blacks to be used in combat.

There's an excellent Doc on the building of the Al-Can highway on the History Channel, I believe.

That's blatant racism on your part.

It's also pretty unbelievable in this day and age.

I'd be shocked by any figure larger than 5-10% of the population embracing that kind of attitude at most.

[–] Vulcans_Rule 8 years ago

You must have followed me here.

This is a board where I have made thousands of posts. Years ago, it rivaled the Politics board for total posts, as a de facto history board. It's quieted down by at least an order of magnitude since then, but there are still some very knowledgeable posters here. Two examples are in this thread.

I saw part of some documentary of the Alaska road construction. I don't recall race aspects, but more technical engineering.

Nobody here doubts blacks participated in the war effort. But very occasionally we get a poster wondering why no blacks were shown among the first wave hitting the beach. That would portray segregated units as integrated units.

 Entropy ain't what it used to be.

[–] ABBEY1227-1 8 years ago

You must have followed me here.

 My 'Friends' list here is short....but I find what most of them say of some value....otherwise I couldn't be bothered to include them on my list.

I don't recall race aspects, but more technical engineering.

The portion I remember was a bit interesting because it was similar to how the Chunnel was constructed with 2 'competing' sides racing towards one another and hoping to out-do the other side. Of course, the Blacks were given older, lesser equipment and had to do with less in many cases........but their handiwork was admirable anyway. It's amazing what all of those people got done at the time considering the harsh conditions, the technology/equipment available and the pressure they were under.

EDIT: Good old youtube......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St30tmmMJiI

[–] jwiles1 8 years ago

Red Tails and Tuskegee Airmen come to mind as movies based on historical events that showed black Americans in combat. The reason these are exceptional in showing blacks in combat is because it was exceptional for blacks to be used in combat. The units were not integrated then, and almost all combat units were white.

Racism of the period is the primary cause, not racism among modern movie makers.

Also, Tora Tora Tora and that god awful Ben Afleck travesty Pearl Harbor both showed Dorie Miller.

[–] Thanato26 8 years ago

You are really grasping at straws. The reason there are not many African Americans shown in WW2 films is because there were not many allowed to fight on the front.