Customer Reviews

Buffalo Soldiers: African American Troops in the US forces 1866-1945 (General Military)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a junior high school social studies teacher, I found "Buffalo Soldiers" interesting but frustrating. Reading the review above (about the book consisting of 3 shorter titles republished as one) explains something of the uneven nature of the text -- but it does not amend the faults. The coverage of African American military units is uneven (most badly regarding black sailors). The illustrations (both B&W photographs and colorful paintings of uniforms & equipment) are excellent. However, there are no maps (in a text that refers to many specific sites & routes on several different continents). I personally enjoyed the book, but I hesitate to recommend it for school purchase because of its limitations. The topic is too important to treat carelessly.

England's Osprey Publishing has a habit of taking books on a similar subject from their various series, combining them and then marketing that as a new product. For example, Henry Sakaida's IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY ACES was grafted on to his JAPANESE ARMY AIR FORCE ACES to produce ACES OF THE RISING SUN. Not all of these 'graftings' worked as well as the Sakaida volume. BUFFALO SOLDIERS combines three different Osprey "Elite" series' titles yet the combination produces a perfectly fine overview of African Americans in service to their country.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS combines "Elite" #107 BUFFALO SOLDIERS, 1866-91; #134 BUFFALO SOLDIERS, 1892-1918; with #158 AFRICAN AMERICAN TROOPS IN WORLD WAR II. The first two were written by Ron Field; the last by Alexander Bielakowski. Thus there is a consistency in BUFFAO SOLDIERS missing in other Osprey 'grafted' titles. Likewise all three were produced to the same standard "Elite" format of text, illustrations and artwork.

Whether you're interested in the African American experience fighting in the Civil War, campaigning against Indians in the Wild West, pursuing Pancho Villa, charging up San Juan Hill, battling in the Aisne-Marne offensive or piloting a P-51 on bomber escort, BUFFALO SOLDIERS will provide a good, basic, well-illustrated overview of those events. History buffs and students writing reports alike should enjoy this look at African Americans in action. Highly recommended.

If, like me, you thought this was something more than a textbook you will, like I was, be very disappointed.

I don't know what it is but, I've been trying to find a good book to read about America's Black soldiers and have yet to find one that's any good. This one reminds me of a schoolbook - lot's of dates and statistics but nothing meaty to read about. I'm thinking about trying the book by William Leckie, perhaps it will be a more interesting read.

At any rate, if you're looking for a good reference book, this will probably be a good place to start however, if you're interested in reading about life history, take a pass.