Shocking Racial Attitudes: Black GIs in Europe

Can attitudes towards minorities, an important cultural trait, be changed? We show that the presence of African American soldiers in the UK during World War II reduced anti-minority prejudice, a result of the positive interactions which took place between soldiers and the local population. The change has been persistent: in locations in which more African American soldiers were posted there are fewer members of and voters for the UK's leading far-right party, less implicit bias against blacks and fewer individuals professing racial prejudice, all measured around 2010. Our results point towards intergenerational transmission from parents to children as the most likely explanation.

Automated summary

The presence of African American soldiers in the UK during World War II reduced anti-minority prejudice, with persistent effects observed around 2010. This change is attributed to intergenerational transmission from parents to children.