When looking at the March 1918 issue of The Crisis, this page, containing a group of pictures of African American soldiers at Camp Meade caught my eye. Most immediately stiking about these photos is the overwhelmingly positive image of military service it presents. Among these pictures exist a couple of themes which make military service seem very attractive to The Crisis' readership.

The first of this is the overwhelming sense of unity and comaradery which these images evoke. Both the first and last images show group of African American soliers standing together at attention, presenting an image of militaristic strength. The middle left picture also show a group of African American soldiers, but the mood is far more relaxed. The soldiers stand closer together, and the men in the front is even seated. In this photo, the soldiers are shown to be close comrades. Taken together, these photos present the military as a place where an African American could both excel and find fellowship.