'The Americans agreed. But, no less concerned with optics than de Gaulle, they had one condition: the French troops in question had to be white. The US was comfortable with spilling blood and spending treasure to free France, and then choreographing that freedom in a way that gave significant credit to the French for delivering it. What they could not tolerate was the sight of one of Europe’s most symbolic cities being rescued by Black troops.'
https://www.ft.com/content/610e59d8-8aea-41da-856d-29ed31681305