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

Bernard C. Nalty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 1989 | ISBN-10: 002922411X | ISBN-13: 978-0029224113

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 years to create an integrated, yet racially troubled, American military establishment. 25 black-and-white photos.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

For the first time, a professional mili tary historian has examined the histo ry of race relations in the U.S. armed forces and detailed the progress made. Nalty combines the perspective of a historian with the analytic sophistica tion of a sociologist. The result is a study that will be as valuable to social scientists seeking institutional case studies as it will be to historians and students. Nalty is strongest in the modern period. He is full of accusa tions of societal and institutional rac ism, but he is equally relentless in fer reting out the day-to-day details of 200 years of interracial relationships. He is to be praised for avoiding the tradi tional anecdotal approach to this com plex subject: uplifting stories of heroic individuals and segregated units. These are used sparingly to lighten an otherwise formal narrative. Highly recommended to academic and larger public collections. Raymond L. Puff er, U.S. Air Force History Prog., Los Angeles
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (August 28, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 002922411X
• ISBN-13: 978-0029224113
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,130,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black American Soldiers Civil War - WWII, February 11, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Strength for the Fight: A History of Black Americans in the Military (Paperback)

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PRESS ON, July 11, 2000

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strength for the Fight: A History of Black Americans in the Military (Paperback)

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.