White veterans under the GI Bill were able to take advantage of government-backed mortgages so they could purchase a home for their families. This caused a ripple effect for the Black community in receiving equal education and opportunity for generational wealth.Īfter WWII, our nation was met with a strong housing boom that represented the American Dream - but not for all Americans. As a result, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) had a high influx of applications from Black veterans, which then forced the HBCUs to turn away other prospective students. 95% of Black veterans were forced to attend all-Black colleges. Instead of granting them acceptance into four-year universities, the VA encouraged Black veterans to apply to vocational and non-degree institutions. Denying an entire population of Black people from opportunities to build wealth, created a huge racial wealth gap in postwar America, the effects of which can still be felt today.īlack veterans failed to receive equal education benefits compared to their white counterparts. When Black veterans returned from war, they had to face the challenges of segregation, which created barriers to education and homeownership - essential tools for wealth building. Yet, systemic inequities continued to serve as a gatekeeper for Black veterans - limiting access to these benefits and substantially increasing the inequalities between them and their white counterparts. The effects of the GI Bill granted unparalleled prosperity for American veterans and the economy for years to come. pursuing higher education, applying unemployment insurance or purchasing their first homes. The bill made financial subsidies available to 16 million World War II veterans in the U.S. The GI Bill, originally known as the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, was signed into law by President Franklin D. The racial inequities of the GI Bill are one such example. The barriers to this success are made up of countless instances of systemic breakages that have ripple effects, often compounding over generations. It’s not a tale of easy triumphs, but one of resilience. Written by IAVA CEO and US Navy Veteran Jeremy Butlerīuilding Black prosperity is not the story of one Black person or one Black family, but the endeavor of generations of Black people. For the Black veterans who received GI benefits, they only got 40% of what white veterans received.
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