In 2011, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress with the following statement: "'The Negro Soldier' showcased the contributions of blacks to American society and their heroism in the nation's wars, portraying them in a dignified, realistic, and far less stereotypical manner than they had been depicted in previous Hollywood films."
Produced by Frank Capra, the film makes use of the same stock footage of a bell ringing out that opens Capra's first post-WWII film, It's a Wonderful Life (1946). The bell appears on screen about 9 minutes into the film, as the narrator discusses the contribution of African Americans to Washington's Army.
The film production crew visited over 19 (some sources state 30) military bases across the United States in 1943.
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