Abstract
The present historical case study was conducted in order to examine the unspoken narratives of six African American Government Girls who worked for the federal government during World War II. The present study documented the lives and experiences of six women employed by the U.S. federal government. Their deliberate decision to become civil service employees interrupted the expectation for Black women to work in domestic service positions. The story of African American Government Girls offers a counter-narrative of Black women in the diaspora. Results indicated a dramatic shift in the personal lives and professional careers of African American Government Girls. Federal employment allowed Black women to achieve financial emancipation, upward social mobility, and ultimately, a shift in the formation of their identity--no longer burdened by the limited vocational role imposed on them by society. These findings provide a more accurate and truthful account of the historical role and contribution of African American Government Girls to World War II.