Attached is an article that essentially serves as a collection of lyrics from an assortment of songs sung by the Black Doughboys who were stationed far behind the front line trenches and charged with the tedious task of loading and unloading trucks. It was written in 1927 as a review for “Singing Soldiers” by John J. Niles, who compiled the labor songs while stationed in France as a fighter pilot:
“Lieutenant Niles found that the Negro melodies were by far the best, and these, both words and music, fill the major part of his pages. They came right of the heart of the composer and his surroundings at the moment…”
To learn how many African-Americans served in the W.W. I American Army, click here.
