President Harry Truman issues Executive Order 9981, ordering equal treatment and opportunity in the U.S. military.
At a Glance
- Date
- 26 July 1948
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
- Key people
- Harry S. Truman, A. Philip Randolph
- Category
- Military
- Source
- Executive Order 9981, July 26, 1948 · National Archives
What It Meant Then
It mandated the desegregation of the armed forces over the objections of many commanders.
What It Means Now
The order was a major federal step toward integration ahead of the civil rights movement.
Cite this page
- MLA
- “Truman Desegregates the Armed Forces.” Black-History.com, 30 Sept. 2026, https://black-history.com/on-this-day/truman-desegregates-the-armed-forces/.
- APA
- Black-History.com Editors. (2026, September 30). Truman Desegregates the Armed Forces. Black-History.com. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/truman-desegregates-the-armed-forces/
- Chicago
- Black-History.com Editors. “Truman Desegregates the Armed Forces.” Black-History.com. September 30, 2026. https://black-history.com/on-this-day/truman-desegregates-the-armed-forces/.
Editorial Note
By the Black-History.com editors. Last reviewed 30 September 2026. To suggest a primary source or a correction, write to editors@black-history.com or use our corrections form.