Best Black Troops in the World

Best Black Troops in the World PDF Author: Channa Wickremesekera
Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
The eighteenth century was a time when British were just beginning to find their way in the cultural landscape of India. The early Orientalists were the pioneers who mapped out this landscape, the knowledge generated by them represented India as not only different but also inferior to the West. This perception of Indian inferiority extended to the military sphere as well. The inability of vast, yet undisciplined Indian armies to stand up to miniscule forces of drilled European infantry and field artillery convinced many in the British camp of an invincible timidity' in Indian soldiers.

Best Black Troops in the World

Best Black Troops in the World PDF Author: Channa Wickremesekera
Publisher: Manohar Publishers and Distributors
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 220

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Book Description
The eighteenth century was a time when British were just beginning to find their way in the cultural landscape of India. The early Orientalists were the pioneers who mapped out this landscape, the knowledge generated by them represented India as not only different but also inferior to the West. This perception of Indian inferiority extended to the military sphere as well. The inability of vast, yet undisciplined Indian armies to stand up to miniscule forces of drilled European infantry and field artillery convinced many in the British camp of an invincible timidity' in Indian soldiers.

Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War

Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War PDF Author: Jeffrey T. Sammons
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
ISBN: 0700621385
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 630

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Book Description
When on May 15, 1918 a French lieutenant warned Henry Johnson of the 369th to move back because of a possible enemy raid, Johnson reportedly replied: "I'm an American, and I never retreat." The story, even if apocryphal, captures the mythic status of the Harlem Rattlers, the African-American combat unit that grew out of the 15th New York National Guard, who were said to have never lost a man to capture or a foot of ground that had been taken. It also, in its insistence on American identity, points to a truth at the heart of this book--more than fighting to make the world safe for democracy, the black men of the 369th fought to convince America to live up to its democratic promise. It is this aspect of the storied regiment's history--its place within the larger movement of African Americans for full citizenship in the face of virulent racism--that Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War brings to the fore. With sweeping vision, historical precision, and unparalleled research, this book will stand as the definitive study of the 369th. Though discussed in numerous histories and featured in popular culture (most famously the film Stormy Weather and the novel Jazz), the 369th has become more a matter of mythology than grounded, factually accurate history--a situation that authors Jeffrey T. Sammons and John H. Morrow, Jr. set out to right. Their book--which eschews the regiment's famous nickname, the "Harlem Hellfighters," a name never embraced by the unit itself--tells the full story of the self-proclaimed Harlem Rattlers. Combining the "fighting focus" of military history with the insights of social commentary, Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War reveals the centrality of military service and war to the quest for equality as it details the origins, evolution, combat exploits, and postwar struggles of the 369th. The authors take up the internal dynamics of the regiment as well as external pressures, paying particular attention to the environment created by the presence of both black and white officers in the unit. They also explore the role of women--in particular, the Women's Auxiliary of the 369th--as partners in the struggle for full citizenship. From its beginnings in the 15th New York National Guard through its training in the explosive atmosphere in the South, its singular performance in the French army during World War I, and the pathos of postwar adjustment--this book reveals as never before the details of the Harlem Rattlers' experience, the poignant history of some of its heroes, its place in the story of both World War I and the African American campaign for equality--and its full i

Freedom Struggles

Freedom Struggles PDF Author: Adriane Lentz-Smith
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674054180
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 331

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Book Description
For many of the 200,000 black soldiers sent to Europe with the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, encounters with French civilians and colonial African troops led them to imagine a world beyond Jim Crow. They returned home to join activists working to make that world real. In narrating the efforts of African American soldiers and activists to gain full citizenship rights as recompense for military service, Adriane Lentz-Smith illuminates how World War I mobilized a generation. Black and white soldiers clashed as much with one another as they did with external enemies. Race wars within the military and riots across the United States demonstrated the lengths to which white Americans would go to protect a carefully constructed caste system. Inspired by Woodrow Wilson’s rhetoric of self-determination but battered by the harsh realities of segregation, African Americans fought their own “war for democracy,” from the rebellions of black draftees in French and American ports to the mutiny of Army Regulars in Houston, and from the lonely stances of stubborn individuals to organized national campaigns. African Americans abroad and at home reworked notions of nation and belonging, empire and diaspora, manhood and citizenship. By war’s end, they ceased trying to earn equal rights and resolved to demand them. This beautifully written book reclaims World War I as a critical moment in the freedom struggle and places African Americans at the crossroads of social, military, and international history.

Torchbearers of Democracy

Torchbearers of Democracy PDF Author: Chad L. Williams
Publisher: Univ of North Carolina Press
ISBN: 9780807899359
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 472

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Book Description
For the 380,000 African American soldiers who fought in World War I, Woodrow Wilson's charge to make the world "safe for democracy" carried life-or-death meaning. Chad L. Williams reveals the central role of African American soldiers in the global conflict and how they, along with race activists and ordinary citizens, committed to fighting for democracy at home and beyond. Using a diverse range of sources, Torchbearers of Democracy reclaims the legacy of African American soldiers and veterans and connects their history to issues such as the obligations of citizenship, combat and labor, diaspora and internationalism, homecoming and racial violence, "New Negro" militancy, and African American memories of the war.

Army Life In A Black Regiment

Army Life In A Black Regiment PDF Author: Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Gain a unique perspective on the Civil War with "Army Life In A Black Regiment" by Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a firsthand account of the author's experiences leading one of the first regiments of African American soldiers during the Civil War. Immerse yourself in Higginson's narrative as he shares the challenges, triumphs, and insights gained from his time with the black troops. As the narrative unfolds, explore the historical significance of Higginson's role in leading the 1st South Carolina Volunteers, one of the pioneering black regiments. Higginson's account provides a window into the complexities of the Civil War era and the contributions of African American soldiers to the fight for freedom. But here's a question that resonates through history: What impact did the black regiments have on the course of the Civil War, and how did their participation contribute to the broader struggle for emancipation and equality? Reflect on the insights provided by Higginson, prompting contemplation on the pivotal role of African American soldiers in shaping the outcome of the war. Experience the historical richness of "Army Life In A Black Regiment." Short, illuminating paragraphs guide you through Higginson's experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs faced by the 1st South Carolina Volunteers. Are you ready to step into the shoes of a Civil War-era commander and witness the courage of African American soldiers? Join Thomas Wentworth Higginson on a historical journey through the pages of "Army Life In A Black Regiment" and gain a profound appreciation for the contributions of black troops during a pivotal moment in American history. Open the doors to a world of historical insight. Purchase "Army Life In A Black Regiment" now, and let Higginson's firsthand account be your guide to understanding the bravery and resilience of those who played a crucial role in shaping the nation's destiny. Seize the opportunity to own a piece of historical authenticity. Embrace the perspectives of the past with "Army Life In A Black Regiment" and let Higginson's account transport you to a time when the struggle for freedom took center stage.

Black Soldiers, White Wars

Black Soldiers, White Wars PDF Author: William E. Alt
Publisher: Praeger
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 168

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Book Description
Betty Alt teaches sociology at the U. of Southern Colorado; William Alt is a member of the Air Force Association and the Retired Officers Association. They provide an overview of the use of black soldiers in colonial European and U.S. armies. The text examines the history of military service as a major avenue for social and economic mobility for blacks, and the development of black equality from segregated noncombat roles to full membership in combat units. The authors also discuss the issue of disproportionate representation of blacks in the Vietnam War, and recent charges of discrimination in the military. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

History of the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865

History of the Fifty-fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, 1863-1865 PDF Author: Luis F B 1844 Emilio
Publisher: Legare Street Press
ISBN: 9781019649626
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1863-1865 is a compelling account of the role of African American soldiers in the Civil War. Written by Luis F. Emilio, a veteran of the regiment, this book provides a firsthand perspective on the challenges faced by African American soldiers during the war. This book is an important contribution to the history of the Civil War and the ongoing struggle for social justice and equality in America. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

The 761st "Black Panther" Tank Battalion in World War II

The 761st Author: Joe Wilson
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 9780786406678
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 328

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Book Description
Their motto was "Come Out Fighting," and that they did without fail. The 761st Tank Battalion - the famed "Black Panthers" - was the first African American armored unit to enter combat, and in World War II they fought in four major Allied campaigns and inflicted 130,000 casualties on the German army. And the fighting was intense - only one out of every two Black Panthers made it home alive. This is the complete history of the 761st, told in large part through the words of the surviving members of the unit. Richly illustrated, this work recounts how the unit was given long overdue recognition - the Presidential Unit Citation and the Medal of Honor - in recent years.

Black Cloud Rising

Black Cloud Rising PDF Author: David Wright Falade
Publisher: Grove Press
ISBN: 0802159206
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 295

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Book Description
Already excerpted in the New Yorker, Black Cloud Rising is a compelling and important historical novel that takes us back to an extraordinary moment when enslaved men and women were shedding their bonds and embracing freedom By fall of 1863, Union forces had taken control of Tidewater Virginia, and established a toehold in eastern North Carolina, including along the Outer Banks. Thousands of freed slaves and runaways flooded the Union lines, but Confederate irregulars still roamed the region. In December, the newly formed African Brigade, a unit of these former slaves led by General Edward Augustus Wild—a one-armed, impassioned Abolitionist—set out from Portsmouth to hunt down the rebel guerillas and extinguish the threat. From this little-known historical episode comes Black Cloud Rising, a dramatic, moving account of these soldiers—men who only weeks earlier had been enslaved, but were now Union infantrymen setting out to fight their former owners. At the heart of the narrative is Sergeant Richard Etheridge, the son of a slave and her master, raised with some privileges but constantly reminded of his place. Deeply conflicted about his past, Richard is eager to show himself to be a credit to his race. As the African Brigade conducts raids through the areas occupied by the Confederate Partisan Rangers, he and his comrades recognize that they are fighting for more than territory. Wild’s mission is to prove that his troops can be trusted as soldiers in combat. And because many of the men have fled from the very plantations in their path, each raid is also an opportunity to free loved ones left behind. For Richard, this means the possibility of reuniting with Fanny, the woman he hopes to marry one day. With powerful depictions of the bonds formed between fighting men and heartrending scenes of sacrifice and courage, Black Cloud Rising offers a compelling and nuanced portrait of enslaved men and women crossing the threshold to freedom.

Half American

Half American PDF Author: Matthew F. Delmont
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1984880411
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 401

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Book Description
The definitive history of World War II from the African American perspective, by award-winning historian and civil rights expert Winner of the 2023 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in Nonfiction A New York Times Notable Book of 2022 A 2022 Book of the Year from TIME, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and more More than one million Black soldiers served in World War II. Black troops were at Normandy, Iwo Jima, and the Battle of the Bulge, serving in segregated units while waging a dual battle against inequality in the very country for which they were laying down their lives. The stories of these Black veterans have long been ignored, cast aside in favor of the myth of the “Good War” fought by the “Greatest Generation.” And yet without their sacrifices, the United States could not have won the war. Half American is World War II history as you’ve likely never read it before. In these pages are stories of Black military heroes and civil rights icons such as Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the leader of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, who fought to open the Air Force to Black pilots; Thurgood Marshall, the chief lawyer for the NAACP, who investigated and publicized violence against Black troops and veterans; poet Langston Hughes, who worked as a war correspondent for the Black press; Ella Baker, the civil rights leader who advocated on the home front for Black soldiers, veterans, and their families; and James G. Thompson, the twenty-six-year-old whose letter to a newspaper laying bare the hypocrisy of fighting against fascism abroad when racism still reigned at home set in motion the Double Victory campaign. Their bravery and patriotism in the face of unfathomable racism is both inspiring and galvanizing. An essential and meticulously researched retelling of the war, Half American honors the men and women who dared to fight not just for democracy abroad but for their dreams of a freer and more equal America.