African-Americans have a distinguished record in American submarines particularly during the Second World War. That record stands in contrast to the difficulties imposed on them by decades of intolerant official government policy. Before the war the government prohibited African-Americans from joining the Navy. When it finally lifted the ban the only rate available to black applicants was in food service, variously called mess attendant, steward, steward mate or officers' cook. During the Second World War these men in the basic rate of steward qualified without difficulty. Here was the irony of their situation - they were officially condemned to what was thought to be a simple rate yet they qualified in submarines which meant that they had to know the complexity of every system on the boat. In actual practice these men served in a variety of submarine jobs including helmsmen, planesmen, gunners, and torpedomen. Officially, they were qualified stewards, but they served their boats in whatever way was needed.
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