naval base in Pearl Harbor, America sent in the 369th Division to defend the territory of Hawaii from air attacks. Response from Hawaiians towards the African American soldiers varied greatly. The territory was a volatile combination of racial tension and extreme state power, as it had not yet joined the American union, which wouldn't happen until 1959. Hawaii did not have the engrained segregation found within America at this time. Although stereotyping of minorities did occur, Hawaii is considered today to have been more progressive on the issue of race than mainland America. There was no established place for African Americans as Jim Crow segregation laws within American had kept white and black people in separate social spheres. Racially-driven stereotypes regarding African Americans did exist on the island and included rumours spread by non-African American soldiers that black soldiers had tails. For example, many white soldiers refused to recognise higher ranking black officers. The discrimination African Americans experienced within the military in Hawaii fueled their fight to see the "Double V" campaign succeed. However, their experience of life in a community that didn't have such established racial ideas demonstrates what a double victory could achieve. Role of the press African Americans had to create their own newspapers to spread information matters of importance and interest to their community, as white newspapers wouldn't include black issues. These newspapers and their influence increased during the war as they had to relay information about the war to their readers. The black press emerged as a vibrant space for rhetorical expression and black social, political and cultural activity which was its primary function. It reflected the frustrations of the black community which were often more radical than the press itself. The press had a vital role in creating and spreading the idea of Double V in an effort to get more readers and black men to enroll in the army and support the war effort, as it was not a "white man's war" and if black people did not support the war effort and help America win it could be problematic to win equality back home. Since the black press had been criticised for insufficient patriotism, they created the Double V Campaign as a means to counter this idea and promote patriotism among African Americans despite the hypocrisy of the US government. However, newspapers such as the Chicago Defender and Pittsburgh Courier also detailed