Vietnam War

Fun Fact: Did you know that approximately 300,000 Black Americans served in the Vietnam War?

Black voices during the Vietnam War were critical in the broader narrative of American history. Black veterans, facing adversity at war and at home, spotlighted the fight for equality. Their experiences shed light on the struggles for justice through their sacrifices and battles, adding a significant dimension to the war's narrative.

Review Sources: 

1. STORIES OF WAR Vietnam War 1964–1975

2. A Veteran's Experience with Discrimination on the Battlefront and at Home During the Vietnam War

3. Heroic Citizens: The Black Experience in Vietnam

Review Questions 

1. How did the experiences of Black soldiers in the Vietnam War mirror or contrast with their experiences back home in terms of racial equality and civil rights?

2. Discuss the number of Black soldiers who received medals or recognition for their bravery and contributions during the war. How did these individual achievements impact the broader perception of Black servicemen?

Activity: Soldier's Journal

Create a fictional journal entry that captures the thoughts, emotions, and challenges of black soldiers during the Vietnam War. Journal Entries should be 2-4 paragraphs long with a minimum of 100 words.

You may also do 2 journal entries capturing 2 different scenarios for extra credit.

Scenario Options: 

Enlisting

Arriving in Vietnam

Facing combat

Interacting with local communities

Dealing with racial dynamics

Returning home

You could also be creative and choose a scenario of your choice

Grading Rubric:

Grading Levels:

- Excellent (5 points)

- Good (4 points)

- Satisfactory (3 points)

- Needs Improvement (2 points)

- Inadequate (1 point)

Rubric Breakdown:

1. Creativity and Imagination:

-Excellent (5 points): Journal entry displays exceptional creativity, vividly transporting the reader into the mind of the Black soldier. Imaginative details enhance the reader's engagement.

- Good (4 points): Journal entry demonstrates creativity, immersing the reader in the Black soldier's perspective. Some imaginative details enhance engagement.

- Satisfactory (3 points): Journal entry shows a moderate level of creativity, providing a basic sense of the Black soldier's experience. Imaginative details are limited.

- Needs Improvement (2 points): Journal entry lacks notable creativity, resulting in a somewhat flat portrayal of the Black soldier's perspective. Limited imaginative details.

- Inadequate (1 point): Journal entry lacks creativity, leaving the Black soldier's experience unengaging and one-dimensional.

2. Historical Context and Accuracy:

- Excellent (5 points): Journal entry demonstrates deep understanding of the historical context, accurately reflecting the time period and its challenges.

- Good (4 points): Journal entry displays good understanding of the historical context, with accurate representation of the time period's challenges.

- Satisfactory (3 points): Journal entry captures some elements of the historical context, but lacks depth or accuracy in representing the time period's challenges.

- Needs Improvement (2 points): Journal entry shows limited understanding of the historical context, resulting in inaccuracies or superficial representation.

- Inadequate (1 point): Journal entry lacks historical context and demonstrates significant inaccuracies.

3. Emotion and Perspective:

- Excellent (5 points): Journal entry effectively conveys the Black soldier's emotions and perspective, invoking empathy and insight.

- Good (4 points): Journal entry captures the Black soldier's emotions and perspective, allowing for some empathy and insight.

- Satisfactory (3 points): Journal entry presents basic emotions and perspective of the Black soldier, but lacks depth or nuance.

- Needs Improvement (2 points): Journal entry lacks emotional depth and perspective, resulting in a limited understanding of the Black soldier's experience.

- Inadequate (1 point): Journal entry fails to convey emotions and perspective, leaving the Black soldier's experience unclear.

4. Scenario Relevance:

- Excellent (5 points): Journal entry aligns perfectly with the chosen scenario, effectively portraying the Black soldier's experience in that context.

- Good (4 points): Journal entry relates well to the chosen scenario, providing a solid representation of the Black soldier's experience.

- Satisfactory (3 points): Journal entry connects to the chosen scenario, but lacks a strong representation of the Black soldier's experience within that context.

- Needs Improvement (2 points): Journal entry tangentially relates to the chosen scenario, making the Black soldier's experience unclear.

- Inadequate (1 point): Journal entry lacks connection to the chosen scenario, leaving the Black soldier's experience disjointed.