Fault Lines: Economic and Racial Divisions in Vietnam-era America | The Draft
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PBS Learning Media
Fault Lines: Economic and Racial Divisions in Vietnam-era America | The Draft
Learn how the Vietnam-era draft system exposed deep fault lines in American society in this clip from The Draft. Economic and racial divides were endemic in the system, and African-Americans and Latinos were more likely to be drafted and die than whites. As the casualites piled up, so did the racial tensions. Muhammed Ali's refusal to be drafted on religious (and racial) grounds illustrated this "perfect storm" moment in American society.