“The Negro Soldier” (1944), produced by Frank Capra’s World War II U.S. Army filming unit, looked at the contributions of African Americans in society as well as their heroic contributions in the war. The film was produced as a response to discrimination against African Americans who were stationed in the South during the war.

The film also aimed to portray black people in a dignified, realistic manner that was counter to the stereotypical images seen in Hollywood films around that time, highlighting the role the church played within the black community, and following the progress of a black soldier through basic training and after, before he’s sent into combat. Also a “War Department enlistment film,” it was used to recruit African Americans to sign up to fight in World War II engagement. It has as its framework a black minister’s explanation to his congregation of the reasons they should join the armed forces to fight the Nazis.

The film includes historical re-enactments of African Americans being treated as valued participants in U.S. armed conflicts dating from the American Revolution.

Scenes also detail black accomplishments in the country’s history, with footage of black people as they served as judges and school teachers, conducted orchestras, played football, and served the U.S. Army in World Ward II. Also included is footage of Jesse Owens and other black athletes as they competed in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

“The Negro Soldier” became mandatory viewing for all soldiers in American replacement centers from spring 1944 until the end of WWII.

Carlton Moss, a black writer, penned the script, and Stuart Heisler directed the film which is considered a watershed in the use of film to promote racial tolerance.

“The Negro Soldier” was produced by Frank Capra, with music by Dimitri Tiomkin.

The film, now in the public domain, rests among the nation’s treasures in the world’s largest archive of film, TV and sound recordings. In 2011, it was one of 25 films inducted for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress – films selected because they are deemed “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.

The library works with film archives and movie studios to ensure original copies are kept safe. It also acquires a copy for preservation in its own vaults. Congress established the registry in 1989.

“The Negro Soldier” is available online in full; watch it below: