During this time, people were using the excuse that blacks more closely resembled animals, rather than people, to justify treating them terribly. They also only saw them as property and believed that they should only be treated as objects.
The U.S. did not want any blacks fighting on their side of the war, but the French military thought differently. While they were stationed in the French military, a General by the name of John J. Pershing, told his troops that they couldn't give the black soldiers any respect, such as shake hands with them, eat with them, or even talk to them. After the French military allowed black soldiers, there were many race riots, which led to the killing of many innocent blacks and whites.