African Americans at War: An Encyclopedia by Jonathan Sutherland

Product Details

Synopsis

To fill a gap in the record of the 400-year history of US military service, a widely-published author introduces some 250 entries chronicling and analyzing the often contradictory roles of African-Americans in battles from pre-Revolutionary days to the current Gulf War. With illustrated entries on individuals and themes, coverage extends from the Abraham Lincoln Battalion who fought in the Spanish Civil War to Major Charles Young, who nearly became the first African-American general in World War I. Vol. 2 contains an extensive chronology, records of armed services branches, medal of honor winners, military sites of African-American significance by state, and a cumulative index. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-The roles African-American men and women have played in military conflicts from Colonial times to the present day are covered in this alphabetically arranged resource. Entries range from a few paragraphs to several pages; many cover individuals who have become firsts in their field or area, such as Crispus Attucks, first to die in the Revolutionary War, and Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., the first African-American general in the U.S. Army. A number of articles examine aspects of service in the Civil War, including that of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the 1st South Carolina Volunteers. Use of the table of contents will allow readers to note the range of subjects covered and to locate overviews on such topics as "African American Women in the Military," "Segregation and Racism in the Military," and the "Tuskegee Airmen." Articles include documented quotes, occasional charts, see-also references, and good-quality, black-and-white reproductions and photos. The second volume ends with a chronology, lists of battles, Medal of Honor winners, two detailed indexes, and more. While not all libraries will need this specialized resource, it is a useful and accessible set.-Janet Woodward, Garfield High School, Seattle, WA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.