The Golden Thirteen: How Black Men Won the Right to Wear Navy Gold

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Synopsis
The story of the 13 courageous black men who integrated the officer corps of the US Navy during World War II—leading desegregation efforts across America and anticipating the civil rights movementThrough oral histories and original interviews with surviving family members, Dan Goldberg brings 13 forgotten heroes away from the margins of history and into the spotlight. He reveals the opposition these men faced: the racist pseudo-science, the regular condescension, the repeated epithets, the verbal abuse and even violence. Despite these immense challenges, the Golden Thirteen persisted—understanding the power of integration, the opportunities for black Americans if they succeeded, and the consequences if they failed.Until 1942, black men in the Navy could hold jobs only as cleaners and cooks. The Navy reluctantly decided to select the first black men to undergo officer training in 1944, after enormous pressure from ordinary citizens and civil rights leaders. These men, segregated and sworn to secrecy, worked harder than they ever had in their lives and ultimately passed their exams with the highest average of any class in Navy history.In March 1944, these sailors became officers, the first black men to wear the gold stripes. Yet even then, their fight wasn&’t over: white men refused to salute them, refused to eat at their table, and refused to accept that black men could be superior to them in rank. Still, the Golden Thirteen persevered, determined to hold their heads high and set an example that would inspire generations to come.In the vein of Hidden Figures, The Golden Thirteen reveals the contributions of heroes who were previously lost to history.
Copyright:
2020

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
ISBN-13:
9780807021897
Related ISBNs:
9780807021583
Publisher:
Beacon Press
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Dan C. Goldberg
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Military, Nonfiction, Biographies and Memoirs
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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