Willie Jenkins

Willie Jenkins was born in 1918 and raised on a farm just outside of Savannah, Georgia, during the height of Jim Crow racism. He moved to Philadelphia as a young man amongst the many other people like him who participated in the Great Migration, and eventually settled in Philadelphia. In 1942, Willie was drafted into the United States Army which was segregated at the time. He fought in the 92nd Division until the end World War II, and then returned home to Philadelphia, where he worked, married, and raised three children. Today, he resides with his granddaughter and enjoys watching sports, going for long drives around the city, and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. The photos provided are from 2019 and 1943. 

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