World War I marked a radical change in the history of African Americans. The war began as a conflict between Europeans and quickly became an event with revolutionary consequences, which would have a major impact on the social, economic, and political future of the black community. The war had a tremendous impact on Cleveland's black community, whether you were a man or a woman, a soldier or a civilian. The war began in 1914 and ended in 1918, which marked one of the most dynamic periods for the African American community due to migration, racial violence, and political protests. African Americans challenged the U.S. government, asserted their rights as American citizens, and demanded equality in ways both subtle and dramatic. We should increase our knowledge about World War I because it is important to better understand how the war affected African Americans and the struggles they faced. This essay focuses primarily on discrimination against African Americans in Cleveland after World War I and why discrimination began to increase after the war. I initially chose this topic because it has always been a topic that piqued my interest and I always wanted to learn more about the African American community. I wondered when will I have a better opportunity to gain more knowledge on the subject of discrimination against African Americans than in an African American studies course. I also think it is very important to know the past history of our city and it is equally important to know the people who were here many years before us, especially the African American community. These things are important to know because they are what constitutes Cleveland today, especially because we live in a diverse city. T...... middle of paper...... Great Migration. (January 1, 2010). History.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014 from http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/great-migration Keating, WD and Krumholz, N. (1995). Cleveland, a metropolitan drive. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press. Kusmer, K. L. (1978). A ghetto takes shape: black Cleveland, 1870-1930. Urbana [ua: Univ. from the Illinois Press. Miller, C.P. & Wheeler, R.A. (1997). Cleveland: a concise history, 1796-1996 (2nd ed.). Bloomington: Indiana University Press. Pager, D. and Shepherd, H. (January 1, 2008). Abstract. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved April 25, 2014 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2915460/Williams, C. (nd). African Americans and the First World War. African Americans and the First World War. Retrieved April 25, 2014 from http://exhibitions.nypl.org/africanaage/essay-world-war-i.html