This work presents a crucial history of World War II from the African American perspective, authored by civil rights expert and Dartmouth history professor Matthew Delmont. Over one million Black individuals served in the war, participating in key battles like Normandy and Iwo Jima while facing segregation and performing essential support roles. Despite their vital contributions, they returned home to find limited housing and educational opportunities. Their stories have often been overlooked, overshadowed by the narrative of the "Good War" fought by the "Greatest Generation." This narrative includes accounts of notable figures such as Thurgood Marshall, who exposed violence against Black troops; Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., who led the Tuskegee Airmen in advocating for Black pilots; and Ella Baker, who championed the rights of Black soldiers and their families. James Thompson's poignant letter highlighted the hypocrisy of fighting fascism abroad while racism persisted at home, igniting the Double Victory campaign. Additionally, poet Langston Hughes served as a war correspondent for the Black press. Their courage in confronting deep-seated racism is both inspiring and galvanizing. In a time when the racial and democratic questions raised by World War II remain pertinent, this meticulously researched account is essential reading.
