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Well, that was kinda embarrassing. 😅

The Battle of Bamber Bridge, 1943.

US military police attacked black US troops on British soil.

The US military authorities demanded that the town's pubs to impose a colour bar, in accordance with Jim Crow Laws implemented in the US at that time, and the local landlords responded with signs that read: “Black Troops Only”, which pissed them off.

A bizarre but true story.
[theconversation.com].

Ryo1 8 Apr 2
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0

I wish someone would show me where Black people have caused more destruction and death around the world as old White men, who have been doing it for FUCKING CENTURIES!

What I find interesting is that in those extraordinary days when black American GIs were stationed in different towns and villages of Britain, Britain was even more predominantly white than it is now. Yet, the difference in the colour of skin didn't seem to bother white British locals. Black or white, American troops were allies. So, the locals welcomed the black GIs, had good times with them typically at local pubs in ways that spread solidarity, and even took side with the black GIs against the white US authorities (the locals were aware of the race riots in Detroit). The black GIs certainly experienced a very different reality while they were in Britain from the reality they had in their homeland.

@Ryo1 Sad, ain't it!

2

One of our nation's finest moments????

I guess the lesson is to never take domestic issues abroad; it's never appreciated.

That is certainly one of Britain's finest moments.

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"Attacked Black Troops on British Soil" is not a very accurate description of what transpired:

That evening in 1943, black troops and white locals were stretching out “drinking-up time” in a pub at the end of the evening. Words were exchanged, and military police arrived and tried to arrest Private Eugene Nunn for not wearing the proper uniform. But they faced new solidarities: a white British soldier challenged the military police: “Why do you want to arrest them? They’re not doing anything or bothering anybody.”

The incident escalated into a fist fight and the military police were beaten back. When they returned with reinforcements to meet the group, now returning to camp, a battle developed in the street. Shots were fired, and Crossland died with a bullet in his back.

Black GIs would drink in mixed company in British pubs, to the horror of the white US Army authorities. brizzlebornandbred
When rumours spread at the camp that black GIs had been shot, scores of men formed a crowd, some carrying rifles. The arrival at around midnight of more military police with a machine gun-equipped vehicle convinced many of the black soldiers that the police intended to kill them – and they drew rifles from the stores. Some barricaded themselves into the base, others tore off back into town, leading to running shooting battles in the streets.

Many of the black American troop standing up to the military police that febrile night were no doubt influenced by news filtering through of race riots in Detroit on June 20, where defenceless black men were attacked by racist police, responsible for the deaths of 17 of the 25 African-Americans killed.

BD66 Level 8 Apr 2, 2022
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