Truman and Civil Rights

Did you know that President Harry S. Truman ordered the integration of the U.S. military in 1948 through Executive Order 9981?

In the aftermath of World War II, returning veterans faced continued racial discrimination. The brutal attack and blinding of Sergeant Isaac Woodard Jr., just hours after his honorable discharge, shocked the nation and helped prompt President Truman to take action. His response led to a federal investigation and, ultimately, the desegregation of the armed forces.

In collaboration with the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park is exploring how Truman’s leadership advanced the broader movement for integration and school desegregation.

After visiting Truman and Civil Rights, from April 20 through May 26, the Truman Library in Kansas City will also host Opening the Vault: The Story of Us, a traveling exhibition featuring landmark documents in U.S. history, including Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board of Education, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.