How did service in the Korean War shape views of discrimination?

Out of the Shadows: A Spotlight on Underrepresented Korean War Veteran Groups from the Library of Congress Veterans History Project was designed to connect students to the stories of underrepresented veteran groups from the Korean War. Through grant partnership with the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Eastern Region Program, coordinated by Waynesburg University, KWLF teacher fellows employed a systematic review process to analyze interviews of underrepresented Korean War veterans from the Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP).

The Out of the Shadows inquiry is the curriculum unit that emerged from our grant work. Utilizing the Inquiry Design Model, the KWLF grant team, based on intimate knowledge of their VHP exemplar veterans, developed the compelling question: How did service in the Korean War shape views of discrimination? Supporting questions explore historical examples of integration and segregation, highlighted by rich primary and secondary sources. We believe the formative and summative assessment tasks, extension opportunities, and encouragment to take informed action will inspire students to develop deep and meaningful learning.

Supporting Questions

1. What historical examples exist that reflect integration and segregation among servicemen/women?
2. In what ways did service in segregated and integrated units contribute to servicemen/women’s views of discrimination?
3. How did Korean War veterans from underrepresented groups describe their service experiences related to discrimination?