“We Have Emerged Better Equipped to Fight Greater Battles”: Black Education and the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933–1942

Abstract

Between 1933 and 1942, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrolled 2.5 million young men, putting them to work on public lands in relief projects meant to combat the economic and social devastation of the Great Depression. African Americans accounted for roughly 10 percent of these enrollees; however, their experiences were often defined by discrimination in selection and segregation throughout their service. Nevertheless, Black enrollees continuously looked for ways to gain more than the food, lodging, and dollar a day in salary that the corps offered to recruits. A crucial means to this end was the educational program in the camps. One of few facets of the corps in which African Americans had the chance to lead, the educational programs in segregated CCC camps were shaped by Black educational advisers who worked with their enrollees to build programs that reflected a commitment to racial pride and uplift. This article draws on federal records, camp newspapers, photographs, and personal correspondence to elucidate the educational impact of the CCC on Black Americans.