The lack of mainstream focus on the stories of black and brown soldiers has long been attributed to a deliberate erasure of their experiences from history. Despite their heroic contributions, their narratives were never highlighted and their achievements were not favored or retold. This erasure has made it difficult to find much detail about their contributions.
However, a new documentary titled “Erased” aims to change this narrative by bringing these untold stories to light and honoring the legacies of black and brown soldiers. Through sharing these stories, the documentary hopes to recognize the sacrifices and contributions of these often-forgotten soldiers.
For example, Idris Elba spoke about his struggle to find information about his own grandfather, emphasizing the importance of knowing where he fought, what he did, and what his decision making was like. Stephen Woodson echoed this sentiment, whose father served as a combat medic in the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. Woodson expressed that the documentary helped him understand the hardships his father endured and shed light on his father’s heroism.
By sharing these stories, “Erased” aims to bring attention to the sacrifices made by black and brown soldiers during World War II. It is set to be released on Monday, just in time for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.