Legislation targets historic GI Bill racial inequities

Legislation targets historic GI Bill racial inequities

FILE - In this photo provided by the U.S. Army Women's Museum, members of the 6888th battalion stand in formation in Birmingham, England, in 1945. The Women's Army Corps battalion made history as the only all-female Black unit to serve in Europe during World War II. For Veterans Day, a group of Democratic lawmakers is reviving an effort to pay the families of Black servicemen who fought on behalf of the nation during World War II for benefits they were denied or prevented from taking full advantage of when they returned home from war. (U.S. Army Women's Museum via AP, File)

(AP)- In honor of Veterans Day, a group of Democratic lawmakers is reviving an effort to pay the families of Black veterans who fought on behalf of the nation during World War II for benefits they were denied or prevented from taking full advantage of when they returned home from war. Legislation being introduced in the House and Senate would benefit surviving spouses and all living descendants of Black WWII veterans whose families were denied the opportunity to build wealth with housing and educational benefits through the GI Bill. Research shows that due to racism and uneven administration of the programs, Black veterans disproportionately faced discriminatory practices and did not realize the same value from the benefits as white veterans.

Photo: FILE – In this photo provided by the U.S. Army Women’s Museum, members of the 6888th battalion stand in formation in Birmingham, England, in 1945. (U.S. Army Women’s Museum via AP, File)