African American Soldiers in the National Guard - (Contributions in Afro-American and African Studies: Contempo) by Charles Johnson (Hardcover)

About the Book

Little is known about the many achievements of African American guardsmen in U.S. history from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. This detailed account thus fills an important gap in our knowledge about the establishment of African American militias in 1877 and their service in wartime and peacetime until the integration of the National Guard in 1950. This careful study of extensive primary and secondary sources is intended for military historians and for all who want to know more about African American contributions to the defense of our nation.

Following a short introduction providing some historical background, the study launches into a description of the establishment of African American militia organizations in and about 1877 and their involvement in the Spanish American War and in quelling civil disturbances and disasters up to 1914. The history deals next with the service of African American guardsmen units in World War I, their work in the years between the wars, and their involvement in World War II. The story ends with a description of the initial reorganization of these units and their integration into the National Guard in 1949 and 1950. A lengthy bibliography of primary and secondary sources is useful as well in pointing to the role of African American militias and guardsmen in the history of this important period.

Book Synopsis

Little is known about the many achievements of African American guardsmen in U.S. history from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. This detailed account thus fills an important gap in our knowledge about the establishment of African American militias in 1877 and their service in wartime and peacetime until the integration of the National Guard in 1950. This careful study of extensive primary and secondary sources is intended for military historians and for all who want to know more about African American contributions to the defense of our nation.

Following a short introduction providing some historical background, the study launches into a description of the establishment of African American militia organizations in and about 1877 and their involvement in the Spanish American War and in quelling civil disturbances and disasters up to 1914. The history deals next with the service of African American guardsmen units in World War I, their work in the years between the wars, and their involvement in World War II. The story ends with a description of the initial reorganization of these units and their integration into the National Guard in 1949 and 1950. A lengthy bibliography of primary and secondary sources is useful as well in pointing to the role of African American militias and guardsmen in the history of this important period.

Review Quotes

?It is evident that (Johnson) has done an extensive amount of research in manuscripts and federal government archives, as well as cross-referencing in secondary sources to document the African-American experience in the national guard. Moreover, he has made use of numerous state archives in his quest to tell the complete story of black national guard units.?-The Historian Autumn, 1993

?The bibliography is excellent and includes both primary and secondary sources....For collections in 19th- and 20th-century American social history. Advanced undergraduate; graduate; faculty.?-Choice

"The bibliography is excellent and includes both primary and secondary sources....For collections in 19th- and 20th-century American social history. Advanced undergraduate; graduate; faculty."-Choice

"It is evident that (Johnson) has done an extensive amount of research in manuscripts and federal government archives, as well as cross-referencing in secondary sources to document the African-American experience in the national guard. Moreover, he has made use of numerous state archives in his quest to tell the complete story of black national guard units."-The Historian Autumn, 1993

About the Author

CHARLES JOHNSON, Jr. is Chair of the Department of History and Geography at Morgan State University. He has written a number of professional journal articles on African American military history.