Georgia pines flew past the windows of the Greyhound bus carrying Isaac Woodard home to Winnsboro, S.C. After serving four years in the Army in World War II, where Woodard had earned a battle star, he was given an honorable discharge ear-lier that day at Camp Gordon
Hannah-Jones introduces the story of Issac Woodward to demonstrate that during world war 2 a black man could fight for his country and its freedom just to come home and be discriminated against because of the color of his skin.
Despite the guarantees of equal-ity in the 14th Amendment, the Supreme Court’s landmark Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896 declared that the racial segregation of black Americans was constitutional.
By presenting an example of racism that happened over 100 years ago Hannah-Jones is able to further her claim on racism in America
As Senator James K. Vardaman of Mississippi said on the Senate fl oor during World War I, black servicemen returning to the South would ‘‘inevitably lead to disaster.’’ Giving a black man ‘‘military airs’’ and sending him to defend the fl ag would bring him ‘‘to the conclu-sion that his political rights must be respected.’’
By referring to this instance in history, Hannah-Jones is further able to prove the mistreatment of black Americans throughout the history of the United States.
With independence, the found-ing fathers could no longer blame slavery on Britain.
Here Hannah-Jones makes a claim that directly connects to the false ideology that America gaining its independence and fighting in the revolutionary war was based around slavery.