African American Army Officers of World War I - by Adam P Wilson (Paperback)

About the Book

In April 1917, Congress approved President Woodrow Wilson's request to declare war on the Central Powers propelling the United States into the European conflict with a self-proclaimed duty to ensure "The world must be made safe for democracy." Two months later 1,250 African American men--college graduates, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, reverends, and non-commissioned officers--left their homes and volunteered to become the first class of black men to receive officer training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Despite the great irony that these men were going off to fight to preserve democracy abroad when they did not receive the benefits from that premise at home, they hoped their valiant service would be rewarded with equal citizenship at the war's end.

Book Synopsis

In April 1917, Congress approved President Woodrow Wilson's request to declare war on the Central Powers, thrusting the United States into World War I with the rallying cry, "The world must be made safe for democracy." Two months later 1,250 African American men--college graduates, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, reverends and non-commissioned officers--volunteered to become the first blacks to receive officer training at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. Denied the full privileges and protections of democracy at home, they prepared to defend it abroad in hopes that their service would be rewarded with equal citizenship at war's end.

This book tells the stories of these black American soldiers' lives during training, in combat and after their return home. The author addresses issues of national and international racism and equality and discusses the Army's use of African American troops, the creation of a segregated officer training camp, the war's implications for civil rights in America, and military duty as an obligation of citizenship.

Review Quotes

"provides a broad cross-section of experiences...contributes to the history of race relations in the early 20th century...recommended" -Choice.

About the Author

Adam P. Wilson joined the department of history and philosophy at the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2011. His expertise is in African American history. He lives in Arlington, Tennessee.