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1900-1919 A New Century of Hope & the Great War
The new Century brought great hope and promise for the black citizens of Iowa. Although racial discrimination remained in place, the Iowa Bystander newspaper, founded in Des Moines in 1894, provided positive accounts of progress to the isolated black communities across the state. When black Iowans flocked to enlist in the military for "The War To End All Wars" in 1917, news that the first black officer training would be offered at Fort Des Moines captivated the imaginations of those hoping that service for the flag would bring economic opportunity and equality after the war.
The Interviews