Strength for the Fight: A History of Black Americans in the Military

by Bernard C. Nalty

Book Overview

Nalty tells of the heroic deeds and humiliating obstacles confronting black fighting forces and shows how black protest, civil unrest, military manpower needs, war, and peace have interacted over 200... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0029224101
• ISBN13: 9780029224106
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 1.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

PRESS ON

America's military has always touted itself as being the bastion of equal opportunity for Blacks. Just how true is this assertion? What exactly has been the military's attitude towards Blacks? Strength for the Fight, a comprehensive history of Blacks in the military, examines the historical record and forces one to rethink the military's so-called benevolence to Blacks. Nalty's work brings up several facts regarding America's attitude in having Blacks serve in the military. 1. America never wanted to arm Blacks no matter how patriotic they were. Of course slavery and the possibility of insurrection played into their fears of having Blacks in the military. 2. Blacks serving in the military were there because of expedientcy not because they were willingly welcomed as equal partners. 3. Military icons thought Blacks were inferior soldiers and did their best to keep them in segregated units. Those and other insights give you the tools to evaluate both the good and bad that the military has placed on Blacks. Everyone should remember that the military is a mirror image of the majority society. It changes out of necessity not because it needs to do the right thing. Nalty corrects the one sided view concerning the benevolence of the military and also gives the rich history of those who fought for America's freedom even when they themselves were not free. The major fault one can find in his work is a paucity of information regarding Black women in the military. Other than that this is an outstanding work which should be read by all ROTC cadets and leaders serving in the military. Pressing on inspite of the indignities layed on Black military men and women is the rich heritage that they pass on to future generations.

Black American Soldiers Civil War - WWII

This book is great. This book allows one to peer into the harsh life of black soldiers. I was shocked how many on the WWII black soldier who re-enlisted had to give up their military rack just to fight in the war. I commend Mr. Nalty for telling the story of the Black Soldiers.