Book Description
A major history of Civil War America through the lens of its two towering figures: Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
"My husband considered you a dear friend," Mary Todd Lincoln wrote to Frederick Douglass in the weeks after Lincoln's assassination. The frontier lawyer and the former slave, the cautious politician and the fiery reformer, the president and the most famous black man in America—their lives traced different paths that finally met in the bloody landscape of secession, Civil War, and emancipation. Opponents at first, they gradually became allies, each influenced by and attracted to the other. Their three meetings in the White House signaled a profound shift in the direction of the Civil War, and in the fate of the United States. In this first book to draw the two together, James Oakes has written a masterful narrative history. He brings these two iconic figures to life and sheds new light on the central issues of slavery, race, and equality in Civil War America.
Customer Reviews:
Puts the radical ideologist and the political realist in historical perspective.......2007-05-30
One of the easiest things to do, especially on the web, is to take a highly regarded leader of the past, say, Abraham Lincoln, pull a few of his quotes or actions out of their historical context, and supposedly "prove" how horrible that leader actually was. In contrast, author James Oakes explains Lincoln to us postmoderns the way an historian should - by reminding us of Lincoln's circumstances and explaining Lincoln's overarching purposes. Oakes does this without resorting to making Lincoln a saint. According to Oakes' compellingly-supported evidence, Lincoln refused to compromise two essential commitments - to antislavery and to the American political system. Lincoln would not compromise his antislavery position to get more votes, nor would he compromise his oaths to uphold the Constitution to undermine slavery. This dual commitment of Lincoln's goes very far in helping us understand why Lincoln limited his goal to preventing the spread of slavery before he became president, why he didn't just go ahead and free all the slaves when he became president, why he moved slowly towards emancipation during the war, etc. Furthermore, the author's discussion of Lincoln's overwhelming desire to change the hearts and minds of Americans about slavery instead of merely forcing through political change regardless of wider support was especially useful. As the "Republican" in the title, Lincoln wanted a government that represented the will of the people; therefore, the will of the people needed to be converted before the government could make radical change. The fact that Lincoln helped accomplish this more widespread change is quite a testament to his legacy of leadership.
The "Radical" in the title is another great American, Frederick Douglass. Unlike Lincoln's, Douglass' reputation typically is not in dispute. Most of us love Douglass, and for good reason. Oakes doesn't tarnish Douglass' reputation, but he does help us to understand how Douglass' singular commitment to antislavery/antiracism, as compared to Lincoln's dual commitment explained above, often put Douglass at odds with the political process AND caused Douglass to speak out so vehemently against politicians like Lincoln. From Douglass' perspective, only immediate emancipation and egalitarianism would serve justice. Thus, by necessity, Douglass would oppose and criticize Lincoln - that is, until the two men met.
One of the reviewers below critiques Oakes for supposedly overstating the relationship between the two men. I believe this critique is misplaced because Oakes never claimed to be writing primarily about the interpersonal relationship between the two. Instead, he's writing about the interplay of the radical ideology of one, and the antislavery politics of the other. Also, I think that Oakes analyzes the relationship between Brown and Douglass comprehensively, not simplistically, as a reviewer below seems to believe.
As a person who teaches history at the college level, and as a person who enjoys reading history for fun, I would recommend this book. I intend to make it one of my required texts for my survey American history course, alongside Frederick Douglass' autobiography.
What changed Frederick Douglass' mind.......2007-04-24
Author James Oakes tells us this: in 1860 Frederick Douglass wrote of the upcoming presidential election "I cannot support Lincoln." But in 1888, Douglass said he had met no man "possessing a more godlike nature than did Abraham Lincoln." What had happened?
Oakes gives us a quick glance at his hypothesis within the subtitle of his book: the triumph of antislavery politics. As he explains, this doesn't apply to Lincoln. Lincoln was always an anti-slavery politician, although his thinking on how and how fast slavery should be destroyed changed over time. But with regards to the use of politics as the means to abolish slavery, the man whose thinking moved more was Frederick Douglass. And although the two men share the billing in Oakes' title, this is far more a book about Douglass than Lincoln. It is a book about the evolution of the reasoning of Frederick Douglass.
That evolution, as Oakes paints it, began for Douglass from the belief that the issue of slavery transcended politics and the compromises that came with it. Oakes traces how Douglass the reformer began to be drawn into the political arena, alienating the abolitionists who had first supported his career. But still he carried with him that insistence on absolutism. He brooked no delays, no strategic maneuverings. Lincoln and the Republicans were gradualists, and therefore were deemed irresolute and untrustworthy.
After the Civil War began, Douglass found even more reasons for outrage. Lincoln refused to immediately emancipate the slaves. The President even countermanded the Union generals who issued proclamations freeing the slaves in the territories they conquered. Lincoln had not yet issued a retaliation policy against confederates who captured and often executed southern blacks who had joined the Union army. Oakes gives us deft insights into Lincoln's thinking on all these issues. Douglass, who apparently was not himself an acolyte of consistency, bounced back and forth in his electoral attitudes. But he never let up in his pressure on Lincoln nor in his condemnation of the President's lack of strong steps against slave-holding interests.
Then, first in 1863, Lincoln meets with Douglass. About a year later, at Lincoln's request, they meet a second time and Lincoln asks Douglass to draw up a plan to get as many slaves freed under the Emancipation Proclamation as possible. Over that span Douglass' thinking with regards to Lincoln undergoes a dramatic shift. Afterwards, his criticism of Lincoln essentially stops.
Oakes describes these meetings, including a third just after Lincoln's second inaugural address, in as much detail as consistent with the small format of the book. He relies largely on Douglass' own recollections. Oakes also gives us dramatic retellings of other events in Douglass' career that illustrate the development of his thinking, but also the refinement of his skills as a political strategist.
We are still left wondering what exactly was the effect of those meetings with Lincoln. Was Douglass simply overwhelmed, as others were, by the force of Lincoln's understated humaneness and thereby convinced of the President's genuine concern for blacks? Or did Lincoln persuade Douglass that his political methods were the best possible under the evolving circumstances? Or did Lincoln flatter Douglass into acquiescence, especially in enlisting his help during that second meeting?
These possibilities are not mutually exclusive. Oakes in no way downplays the significance of these meetings. But I believe he wants us to see that what happened was entirely consistent with the evolution of Douglass' thinking with regards to politics. As a reformer, he saw it his job to always keep the pressure on. But where and how best to apply that pressure --- that changed in his meetings with Lincoln. And, near the end of Douglass' life, when he raised Lincoln to sainthood, he was still putting the pressure on. But he was using Lincoln's reputation to apply that pressure against the backsliding that the post-Reconstruction era had brought. Douglass had found a way to combine the duties of a reformer with a sophisticated instinct for politics.
"The Radical and the Republican" is not a dramatic retelling of events. It is certainly not a co-biography of its two principals. But it does have drama. That drama comes from taking Douglass' thinking seriously and mapping out its development and growing political sophistication. To do this, it uses comparisons with Lincoln's thinking and the interplay of the two men's principles and actions. But it's not by accident that Douglass comes first in the book's title and its cover. There are many books about Lincoln. This is a book about Frederick Douglass.
The Politician and the Reformer.......2007-03-22
Abraham Lincoln (1809 --1865) and Frederick Douglass (1818 -- 1895)are American heroes with each exemplifying a unique aspect of the American spirit. In his recent study, "The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery Politics" (2007), Professor James Oakes traces the intersecting careers of both men, pointing out their initial differences and how their goals and visions ultimately converged. Oakes is Graduate School Humanities Professor and Professor of History at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He has written extensively on the history of slavery in the Old South.
Oakes reminds the reader of how much Lincoln and Douglass originally shared. Lincoln and Douglass were self-made, self-educated, and ambitious, and each rose to success from humble backgrounds. Douglass, of course, was an escaped slave. Douglass certainly and Lincoln most likely detested slavery from his youngest days. But Lincoln from his young manhood was a consummate politican devoted to compromise, consensus-building, moderation and indirection. Douglass was a reformer who spoke and wrote eloquently and with passion for the abolition of slavery and for equal rights for African Americans.
Much of Oakes's book explores the difficult subject of Lincoln's attitude towards civil rights -- as opposed simply to the ending of slavery -- and of how Lincoln's views developed during the Civil War. Oakes uses Douglass as a foil for Lincoln beginning with the Lincoln -- Stephen Douglas debates in Illinois in 1858. Steven Douglas tried hard to link Lincoln to Frederick Douglass and to abolitionism. He claimed that Lincoln favored equal rights for Negroes and raised the spectre of intermarriage between white women and black men. Portions of Lincoln's responses to Stephen Douglas were almost as distressing, as Lincoln carefully avoided supporting civil equality between the races and stressed instead the evil of slavery and the need to stop its expansion. It is not surprising that Douglass the abolitionist was ambivalent and mistrustful of Lincoln in the early years, doubting his committment to the cause of ending slavery.
Douglass continued to distrust President Lincoln. Douglass found the President too quick to temporize and too slow to act towards freeing the slaves. In widely publicized actions, Lincoln had rebuked two of his generals, Freemont and Hunter, who had tried to take aggressive action to free slaves. Lincoln had acted in order to keep on good terms with the border states whose support he deemed necessary to a successful war effort. But Douglass saw Lincoln's actions as weak and waffling.
Douglass's attitude gradually changed with the Emancipation Proclamation and with three meetings between the two men in 1863, 1864, and 1865. Douglass was won over by the President. Lincoln, for his part, seemed to view Douglass with genuine affection and friendship. Douglass gave masterful orations summarizing Lincoln's accomplishments following Lincoln's assassination, in 1876 at the unveiling of the Emancipation Monument in Lincoln Park, Washington, D.C., and throughout the rest of his life. Lincoln had fought slavery with every means at his command, Douglass came to believe, given the difficult political and military situation with which he had to deal.
Douglass' career moved in an opposite direction from that of Lincoln. He began as a reformer and a follower of the abolitionist William Garrison and he initially shared Garrison's contempt for the American political process. Gradually, Douglass found his own voice, and he became convinced the the United States Constitution did not support slavery. He came to conclude that it was possible to work for change through the political process, and this belief eventually allowed a convergence between him and Lincoln. With the conclusion of the Civil War, Douglass became a party man and a stalwart Republican -- perhaps giving up more than he should have of the passion of his early years. While he ultimately saw the failure of Reconstruction, Douglass remained for the rest of his long life firmly within the American political process.
Oakes does an excellent job of comparing and contrasting the work of Lincoln and Douglass. His accounts of the complex events leading to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation are particuarly lucid. Oakes argues that Lincoln had surreptitiously delivered the death blow to slavery by the end of 1861. As to Douglass, I learned a great deal from Oakes's discussion of his three autobiographies, written in 1845, 1855, and 1881 (editied, 1891) and of how these works document the change of Douglass from reformer to an instance of the American success story. Oakes also describes well and detail a chilling meeting between Douglass and other African American leaders and President Andrew Johnson in which Douglass unsuccessfully tried to persuade Johnson to extend the right to vote to African Americans.
Oakes has written a readable, informed account of the achievements of two great American leaders. The attitudes which they represent -- the politican and the reformer -- and the issues with which they struggled remain with Americans today.
Robin Friedman
Neglected History.......2007-03-08
I enjoyed this book because it showed the civil rights struggle with all its complexities in a very clear and understandable way. The interaction of Douglas and Lincoln was especially interesting because it provided a very human picture of good men trying to deal with the thinking and forces operating during that time.
A spectacular love story.......2007-03-01
Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass long, coy courtship ends in the conjugal bliss of pragmatism. Explosive!
And the cover of the book is AWESOME. The design is great.
Book Description
Over the course of a lifetime of service to his country, Colin Powell became a national hero, a beacon of wise leadership and, according to polls, “the most trusted man in America.” From his humble origins as the son of Jamaican immigrants to the highest levels of government in four administrations, he helped guide the nation through some of its most heart-wrenching hours. Now, in the first full biography of one of the most admired men of our time, award-winning Washington Post journalist Karen DeYoung takes us from Powell’s Bronx childhood and meteoric rise through the military ranks to his formative roles in Washington’s corridors of power and his controversial tenure as secretary of state.
With psychological acumen and a reporter’s eye for detail, DeYoung introduces us to the racially integrated neighborhood where Powell grew up, his courtship of and marriage to Alma Johnson, and his years as a promising young Army officer. We are witness to the pivotal events that helped shaped his world view, including two tours of duty in Vietnam, where he was disillusioned by a breakdown in leadership and the lack of a clear objective, and a 1988 meeting as President Reagan’s national security adviser with Mikhail Gorbachev, who looked at him dead-on and effectively declared an end to the Cold War. We are privy to his reasoning as the architect of Operation Desert Storm and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, a position that made him a household name and an international celebrity. And we experience his agonizing deliberations in the face of a groundswell of public desire that he run for the presidency.
Yet it was his capacity as America’s chief diplomat in the administration of George W. Bush that brought Powell the most renown—and criticism. Charged with the formidable task of making the case for war with Iraq, he convinced a wary nation that it was both necessary and right, only to find his own credibility hanging in the balance as the justification for invasion began to unravel. At odds with the White House on a range of foreign policy issues, Powell’s counsel went unheeded and his reputation was tarnished.
With dramatic new information about the inner workings of an administration locked in ideological combat, DeYoung makes clearer than ever before the decision-making process that took the nation to war and addresses the still-unanswered questions about Powell’s departure from his post shortly after the 2004 election. Drawing on interviews with U.S. and foreign sources as well as with Powell himself, and with unprecedented access to his personal and professional papers, Soldier is a revelatory portrait of an American icon: a man at once heroic and all-too-humanly fallible.
Customer Reviews:
Colin Powell: serving the USA for almost 50 years.......2007-06-30
This biography of Colin Powell is very impressive. It details both his career as a serviceman and then as a political appointee for a period totalling almost 50 years.
As a non-American, it is interesting to read a biography of an individual who is both influential in terms of the positions he has held, and a positive role model for many. Colin Powell comes across as a fundamentally decent human being in an environment where power can have a corrosive effect.
I recommend this biography to anyone who wants to know more about Colin Powell and his life and times, as well as to anyone interested in understanding the world events and political influences within which he served the USA.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
What a Man.......2007-06-28
One of the best biographies of a political character that I have ever read. There are times where I lose track of who the players are and what a particular politician or officer's title means. Yet, overall I was able to follow what was going on and how it affected our nation. Powell did an excellent job of speaking at the Speaker Series. He was smooth and easy to follow with quips and humorous antidotes throughout the evening. He reminded me of that member of everyone's family who is easy to talk to and one who people are drawn to. That is probably why he has been such a great leader of our generation.
Colin Powell: soldier of good fortune.......2007-04-24
With Colin Powell, what you see is what you get. Karen DeYoung's exhaustive biography of the former secretary of state reveals a man who prioritized loyalty and military values. The respect shown Powell over the years is a reflection of his deep-rooted strength of conviction, subdued yet commanding personality, and sense of decency. A career soldier who served two tours of duty in Vietnam and commanded the 1991 Persian Gulf War victory, Powell dealt in the power of the chain of command. How that served - or, late in his career may have disserved - him and his country is at the crux of this book. DeYoung, an associate editor at The Washington Post, flexes her considerable reportorial muscle as she whisks you past every security checkpoint, and into the midst of sensitive and historic meetings at the highest levels of government. We highly recommend this fascinating and riveting look at an American hero who played the game as best as he could - even though the other guys made the rules.
A Good Soldier to the End.......2007-03-19
While this is a biography about the man, I think the real importance of this book is the insight it gives into the decision made to attack Iraq. Colin Powell was in the middle of that decision, his speech to the United Nations mirrored the certainty felt at the time that Iraq had and was expanding their WMD's.
This is now known to be false, and the more radical Democrats have adopted as a mantra: 'Bush lied.' But it is becoming ever more clear that the beliefs in WMD's were simply wrong rather than 'Bush lied.'
The other aspects of the book regarding decision making in the Bush White House are also intrigueing. Ms. DeYoung is certainly no fan of V. P. Cheney. But this is not the main thrust of the book, it is instead on Powell, a decent, well meaning, very bright man, but a soldier of the 'shut up and follow orders school,' rather than the leader in his own right.
It will be interesting to see what happens to Powell in the future. He is now 70 years old, but certainly shows no outward signs of age. Would a more central Republican president want him somewhere in his administration? Would Obama? I can't see Hilary wanting him around. Ms DeYoung's book shows Powell to be a very bright senior manager, but not the insightful creative leader.
Service to the Nation.......2007-03-03
This is an unauthorized biography of Colin Powell but contains many excerpts from his autobiography, My American Journey, and includes interviews with him. Being that the author is able to interview other persons involved in his life, Karen DeYoung is able to analyze certain events from a neutral third person perspective. This is the strength of the book as she objectively presents both his critics view and his counter viewpoint. Events such as Mai Lai in Vietnam, the Iran-Contra scandal, and the response to the 9-11-2001 attacks on the United States are discussed.
The first third of the book presents pretty much the same information that was presented in his early life, pre- Vietnam, as written in is autobiography. The second third of the book covers his military years that is again similar to his autobio, but includes much more analysis.
Critics complain of Powell's lack of military command time and he spent too much time in Washington DC to have been promoted to a Four Star General. However, the author presents the events as they occurred and allows the reader to analyze the events and the working behind the US government to make their own decision. There is no doubt in my mind that he was successful as Chairman and that his military time spent in Washington DC benefited the nation as a whole.
It was truly enlightening on reading how President Reagan personally requested that General Powell return to the White House to correct the problems that resulted from Iran Contra. His interactions with the different Presidents from Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton along with how their staffs worked, or rather didn't work together in the case of Clinton, was very insightful. The basics of organization, professional courtesy (such as returning a phone call or personally replying to an email), and conducting a meeting are presented and can be compared between administrations.
The final third of the book covers the period of time after his military retirement. His thoughts towards running for President, his attempts to bring the Republican Party back to moderation, and why he did not run for office is discussed. The book also discusses his time as Secretary of State and the challenges it posed in dealing with the extremist views of the Vice President and Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Sec Def in 2002.
The book can be infuriating at times when one reads how certain politicians chose to ignore Mr. Powell's world life experience and advice after 9-11. Certain appointees have their views, but they are at times not in the best interest of this nation, its citizens, and the world community. Mr. Powell has been the voice of reason trying to prevent extremist views (of both political parties) from dominating our government's policies for the past three decades.
Was he the "odd man out" as Secretary of State? The reader can decide for themselves, but one thing is certain, Mr. Powell has served our nation with distinction and honor. This book presents a balanced viewpoint on his life, his accomplishments, and allows the reader to determine if the criticisms of him are fair or unjustified.
Some current readers may try to compare a senator from Illinois, Mr. O, to Mr. Powell, but to do so is unfair to Mr. Powell. Mr. Powell has served this country for decades while the other is a first term senator with little experience.
Recommend reading this book at least for at least the last two thirds regarding the insights into the inner workings and dynamics of our nation's government over the past few administrations. Am not sure about recommending ownership of this book, however as it is can be a bit dry and slow to read in certain portions. The last third of the book covers a lot of his life that was not included in his autobio and may be worth including into a supporter's collection.
Book Description
Long before Civil Rights, the Tuskegee Airmen fought for equality. First they integrated the Armed Forces, then a whole nation and did it with competency, skill, valor, and courage in combating the enemy abroad and racism at home. Because they stood tall, African Americans and fellow Americans are the better for it. The book of over 500 pages also contains about 100 photos, an appendix full of documents, and an Index of 25 pages.
Customer Reviews:
Valuable Material, Lousy Presentation.......2002-10-31
The World War II exploits of the 332nd Fighter Group--the first all-black unit in the US Army Air Forces--is a fascinating story on several levels. The pilots of the 332nd fought long and hard in the skies over North Africa, Italy, and Central Europe. They racked up an impressive record of enemy aircraft shot down, ground targets destroyed and--on the bomber-escort missions they often flew--friendly planes brought home safely. They also paved the way for the integration of the armed forces, and of American society generally, by showing that blacks could handle the stress of battle and the demands of high-performance airplanes just as well as whites. In a world where many (most?) whites saw blacks as innately inferior, the Tuskegee Airmen proved otherwise.
This book is a dense, detailed, information-packed history of the 332nd during and immediately after the war. It's a valuable source on a vital topic, and I'm glad it's out there.
That doesn't, however, make it a great book.
The style, for close to 400 pages, is choppy and unpolished with only a vague suggestion of a strong narrative line. Context is spotty at best, and technical terms sometimes go unexplained. The typography is idiosyncratic, and the inexplicable rendering of nicknames in italics and ranks, abbreviated, in ALL CAPS is distracting in a book where names come thick and fast. The type face itself is ugly, and the reproduction of many of the pictures is substandard. The index consists almost solely of personal names, which makes it intensely frustrating to use if you're not already intimately familiar with the story. To look up an incident in which two members of the 332nd sank a German destroyer, you have to know what their names were . . . no entry for "destroyer," or "strafing," or "naval vessels."
If there were other books out there that provide the sheer volume of facts about the subject that this one does, I'd give it about a star-and-a-half. There aren't, but there ought to be. The 332nd was noted for its professionalism; it deserves a more professionally-done history. Until that book gets written, though, this one (flaws and all) is essential.
Most enjoyable and most interesting!.......2000-02-14
In baseball, Jackie Robinson's impact can never be overstated. What he did for the game is immeasurable. In the world of aviation African Americans owe a debt of thanks to a group of men called "The Tuskegee Airmen". Their contributions to aviation are just as immeasurable.
Francis takes the reader back to the time when blacks in the army were living under Order 9981 from President Truman. Francis's gives you the triumphs and failures and brings it to life through each page. This read was truly remarkable.
This is the second book I have read on the Tuskegee Airmen, the first being a biography of Charles F. McGee, and for the second time I was moved by how this group of Officers and enlisted personnel worked through segregation to ensure the civil rights of those to follow.
Army life today, and the African American who serve with honor, can thank the men of this book for what they have. This nation owes a debt of thanks that can never be expressed enough. I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Amazon.com
General Powell may have undertaken this book as a form of paid political test marketing, but it turns out to be a success of an altogether different kind. We don't learn from this book if Powell is presidential material, but his recounting of the various steps of his career give us an unrivaled view of the ins and outs of military bureaucracy and shows how the modern American military, with its consistent emphasis on can-do attitudes and actual results, is a much more congenial place for realizing one's talents than our still-alarmingly pigeonholing general society.
Book Description
"A GREAT AMERICAN SUCCESS STORY . . . AN ENDEARING AND WELL-WRITTEN BOOK."
--The New York Times Book Review
Colin Powell is the embodiment of the American dream. He was born in Harlem to immigrant parents from Jamaica. He knew the rough life of the streets. He overcame a barely average start at school. Then he joined the Army. The rest is history--Vietnam, the Pentagon, Panama, Desert Storm--but a history that until now has been known only on the surface. Here, for the first time, Colin Powell himself tells us how it happened, in a memoir distinguished by a heartfelt love of country and family, warm good humor, and a soldier's directness.
MY AMERICAN JOURNEY is the powerful story of a life well lived and well told. It is also a view from the mountaintop of the political landscape of America. At a time when Americans feel disenchanted with their leaders, General Powell's passionate views on family, personal responsibility, and, in his own words, "the greatness of America and the opportunities it offers" inspire hope and present a blueprint for the future. An utterly absorbing account, it is history with a vision.
"The stirring, only-in-America story of one determined man's journey from the South Bronx to directing the mightiest of military forces . . . Fascinating."--The Washington Post Book World
"Eloquent."
--Los Angeles Times Book Review
"PROFOUND AND MOVING . . . . Must reading for anyone who wants to reaffirm his faith in the promise of America."
--Jack Kemp
The Wall Street Journal
"A book that is much like its subject--articulate, confident, impressive, but unpretentious and witty. . . . Whether you are a political junkie, a military buff, or just interested in a good story, MY AMERICAN JOURNEY is a book well worth reading."
--San Diego Union Tribune
"Colin Powell's candid, introspective autobiography is a joy for all with an appetite for well-written political and social commentary."
--The Detroit News
From the Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
The Hobo Philosopher.......2007-09-19
Well, I kind of liked Colin Powell once. I kinda don't anymore. The book was ... dull. The same old same old - Horatio Alger type stuff. I bought the book because I thought that Colin might be going someplace and I wanted a glimpse at his philosophy. After his stint in Republican politics his future in that area looks pretty dim.
He was a soldier and he has the soldier mentality. This book was probably designed to put him on his political career. I liked Swartzkoff's book much better. What happened to Swartzkoff anyway?
an american hero.......2007-09-10
This is a great book and an inspirational story of what one can accomplish in America if one has the drive. Powell was born from two poor Jamaican immigrants and rose, quickly, to the highest uniform office in America, and took some of the top political posts (or was offered them), though he wrote this before he became Sec of State. Looks like a volume two would be a good idea. After reading this my respect for Powell has grown. He served under five presidents, top posts under four of them. It is an amazing story of an amazingman.
Could have been better plus a lie inside.......2007-08-24
CP did himself a diservice when he chose whomever to help him write this. I was completely surprised how bad the writing was. CP has an interesting story, but his author fails him. In the Army we would call this good initiative, poor execution. Terribly underwritten.
In the book Powell states that minorities are under represented in elite forces aka Rangers, Special Forces, etc. because of institutional racism. That is a total lie, and it is racism on his part. I began in the Army as an enlisted soldier and retired as an officer after 20+ years. The only racism I experienced was when my African American squad leader took care of all of the other African Americans in my squad and platoon and gave me the crappest and worst details because I was white.
Besides that experience, after much experience in the Army I have never seen a more racially fair organization in my life. If there was every fairness and opportunity for minorities, it is certainly in the Army. There is a lot to dislike about the Army like ego maniacs allowed to run loose and having stupid people in charge of you and utterly ridgid thinkers, but the Army did, from my perspective, an excellent job with fairness to everyone with regard to color. I also served from the squad level to the platoon level to company level as an enlisted soldier and an officer, and I served at the battalion level and brigade level as an officer. I have been a few places and seen and done a few things if you are unsure about my validity.
So, it seriously surprises me that CP said this. I think he was making a cheap political excuse to curry favor or work out an old grudge. By the way, after I left my unit, my squad leader got caught cheating on his wife with another African American squad leader, and his wife left him. I am sure he go into more trouble than that, but at least there was some justice.
Powell Review, CD.......2007-05-02
I read the book and had to get the CD set for my husband's aunt. She loves to read non-fiction, patriotic American historical insights, etc. She cannot see now and longed for such things. She is a huge Powell fan (as am I) and wanted to share his story with her. Colin Powell is a hero and I have nothing but respect for the man and what he has done for this country! When he left the State Department, it was truly a sad, sad day.
This book is written and read with intellect and interest that will keep you listening from beginning to end.
He is a rock star ... everybody loves him.......2007-02-27
Stories abound in the US government about simple acts of kindness that Colin Powell showed to employees. But the stories I love the best are the ones told by Arabs, Latinos, Asians and Africans. People everyone seem to love to hate the US, but they consistently agree on two things ... Colin Powell and the Bill of Rights.
This book is a simple, clear picture of life and work. One of the only complaints I've heard about him came from Panamanian military men who dislike him because he planned Operation Just Cause, the air assault and arrest of Manual Noriega in Panama. This, also, is detailed in his biography.
But by far the thing I love the most and perhaps the thing that my Asian, Arab and Latin brothers love the most about Colin Powell is that he came from humble beginings and doesn't hide it nor seem to be ashamed of it. And that despite his rather average (by global standards) family life and upbringing, he rose to be one of the most significant and powerful men in the world.
People in South America love to talk about how he got off the plane in a full, formal black suit. "Why?" they ask. Because he respects us, they explain.
Somehow everyone feels like they are kin to Colin. His courtesy and kindness, his genuine character and true grit developed through the hard knocks of the Vietname war and surviving a couple of the more racist decades of U.S. history. Interestingly, while he accounts the negative aspects of his life's history ... combat, racism, struggles, he seems to find a spark of inspiration in all things good and bad.
Maybe that's way he has such a following throughout the globe.
Book Description
At the dawn of a new century, a newly elected U.S. president was forced to confront an escalating series of unprovoked attacks on Americans by Muslim terrorists sworn to carry out jihad against all Western powers. As timely and familiar as these events may seem, they occurred more than two centuries ago. The president was Thomas Jefferson, and the terrorists were the Barbary pirates. Victory in Tripoli recounts the untold story of one of the defining challenges overcome by the young U.S. republic. This fast-moving and dramatic tale examines the events that gave birth to the Navy and the Marines and re-creates the startling political, diplomatic, and military battles that were central to the conflict. This highly interesting and informative history offers deep insight into issues that remain fundamental to U.S. foreign policy decisions to this day.
Customer Reviews:
A good history of how little has changed in 200 years.......2007-08-25
Josh London has written a pretty good book about the challenges that the newly formed United States of America faced when it decided to move out from the wing of its mother country and strike out on its own. One of those challenges being the band of criminals who essentially controlled access to the Mediterranean Sea along the Barbary Coast.
While he is not a writer who knows how to turn a very interesting piece of history into a page-turner as Wright does with his book The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (Vintage) it is fine when compared to many other rather dull writers of history. At least he seems to get his facts straight and does not have some political agenda get in the way of an interesting story.
The most interesting part of the book is actually not something in it, but the fact that little has changed in two hundred years. Pirates still threaten the seas all over the world, politicians debate and deflect about serious issues concerning national security and national interests, and the consequences of being on the wrong side of history are soon forgotten as a new generation of voters and politicians who are ignorant of history get a chance to relive it again at great expense.
Neo-Con Rubbish.......2007-07-29
I actually enjoyed the history portion of the book. Unfortunately, London's conclusion -- Arabs are greedy, untrustworthy and only understand force so America was right to invade Iraq and we must stay the course -- is horse poop.
According to London -- who's written articles on his book's relevance to Iraq at the National Review and the Heritage Foundation -- Jefferson (the father of the Democratic Party) was a vacillating appeaser and was wrong to end the war with Tripoli without toppling the Pasha and grinding the city beneath the heels of American military might.
This ignores, of course, the fact that America had no subsequent serious problems with Tripoli.
London conflates James Madison's war against Algeria -- a decade later -- with the war against Tripoli and credits the "strong and resolute" Madison (a conservative, of course) with leading the charge against the North African Muslim evil-doers which culminated in France and Italy's colonial occupation and subjugation of the region. Mission accomplished. Hah!
It's easy to convince yourself that the simple-minded direct action and occupation of annoying nations that London advocates in this book is the best course of action in any situation -- diplomacy and negotiation really is hard and complex -- until you remember that France was brutally forced out of Algiers and our own occupation in Iraq has left America worse off in the region than before.
This book is nothing but a shameless plug for the neo-conservative notion that America must use its military might to reshape the world in our own image. We now see how far that got us.
Great read.......2007-07-03
Compared to other books on the subject of the Tripolitan War published around the same time Victory in Tripoli is a superior read. The author strikes a great balance between providing penetrating detail and keeping the story moving along. In other words, it's engaging, insightful, and detailed but, not boring.
Fascinating story marred by amateurish writing.......2007-06-12
While the history of a young America's naval adventures in the Mediterranean is clearly a fascinating one (and largely unknown, at least to me) it is done a terrible disservice by author Joshua E. London.
As much respect as I have for what appears to be his painstaking research in pulling together the events and happenings of those days, and placing them in the proper historical context, the telling of the tale suffers from his pedestrian, high-school text book writing style of the sort in which "this happened, then this happened, then this happened."
You need look no further for an example of the decline of the once-valued craft of book editing.
Poorly written and, overall, very disappointing.......2007-05-29
I'd been waiting to read this book for a long time, ever since I'd read London's brief piece "America's Earliest Terrorists: Lessons from America's first war against Islamic terror" -- obviously drawn from this book -- at National Review Online. (Google on "Joshua London" and "National Review Online" and you'll find it.) While I highly recommend that brief National Review Online article, anyone with the same motive as mine is probably going to be disappointed with the book.
Instead of fleshing out the points about the heritage of Islamic terror (how it's part of mainstream Islam and far antedates American involvement in the mideast and the existence of Israel), the book says hardly more on this subject than the brief article I cite.
Plus, reading the book was like having a stick poked in my eye, because the writing is so bad. (I'm not sure what book these other commenters reviewed!) Best to give some examples (and please remember, I **wanted** to like the book):
* On pages 16 and 17, Bernard Lewis is introduced **twice** (as "the historian Bernard Lewis")
* On page 41, the USS Chesapeake is introduced in one sentence as a "forty-four-gun frigate" and in the next sentence as a "thirty-six-gun frigate."
* Prominent character James Leander Cathcart is introduced on page 54, quasi-introduced again on page 56, and effectively introduced **again** (including his middle name) on page 109.
* On page 108, whle detailing the lineage of one of Jefferson's naval appointments, Captain Richard Valentine Morris, author London mentions one of Morris's uncles, "Governor Morris." He means, of course, **Gouverneur** Morris.
* Another howler is this passage from page 117: " ... but stormy whether forced them to the Bay of Tunis. They arrived on February 22, 1803. Their arrival had little affect on the Tunisians ..." [precise transcription]
There's lots more where those came from. But maybe those seem too picayune for you to agree that the quality of thought that went into writing the book leaves something to be desired? There's bigger stuff, too.
For example, after awhile, I was dying to see a map that would give the relative placement of Tangiers, Algiers, Tripoli, Tunis, Malta, and Syracuse, among other ports of call. Then I discovered there **is** a map among the clutch of illustrations near the center of the book, but labels on it smaller than "Mediterranean" are too blurry to read.
The welter of individuals' names really calls for a "dramatis personae" at the start of the book, so one has a hope of keeping track of the characters. Go fish!
And the description of all the comings and goings of various ships and people doesn't add up to anything useful. It's similar to reading an airline's schedules for entertainment.
In short, the book reads like a first draft, or perhaps even a zeroth draft. The author acknowledges two editors at Wiley, but it's hard to believe either had more than a nodding acquaintance with the book. At least a couple hundred hours of [additional?] editing would be needed to whip this mess into shape.
So I give it two stars because it **does** contain interesting material that could be the basis for a vastly better book (and one star would suggest I have an axe to grind on the subject of the book) . Very disappointing.
Average customer rating:
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Blacks in the American Armed Forces, 1776-1983: A Bibliography (Bibliographies and Indexes in Afro-American and African Studies)
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
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Customer Reviews:
(RAW Rating: 4.5) - What is happening to black men?.......2007-08-04
Demico Boothe has explored the reasons so many black men are indeed in prison in, WHY ARE SO MANY BLACK MEN IN PRISON? He begins with his own story of a shaky upbringing and his subsequent dabbling in drug dealing. He was caught with a few grams of crack cocaine but because it was the dreaded crack, he was given 10 years in prison. When he left prison after serving his time, he was actually railroaded back into prison by a crooked justice system. He delves deeply into our justice system and the motives behind all the new prisons that are being built. He gives succinct and reasonable views of exactly what is happening now in the United States and how the past has played a role in the present. He uses persuasive statistics regarding the number of black men in prison as compared to the number of white men who are incarcerated.
Demico Boothe has done an excellent job of researching his subject and it is a plus, if unfortunate for him, that he has actually experienced first hand what he's talking about. I knew I was hearing the real story rather than just statistics from an intellectual who had no real idea of what the prison system is really like. I would have liked for Boothe to search a little deeper into the Haiti, Aristide and USA question, maybe even reading Randall Robinson's take on the situation, and then he might see it a bit differently. Otherwise, it is a good book and one every one in America should read. We indeed, have a crisis going on.
Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Why Are So Many Black Men In Prison? A Comprehensive Account Of How And Why The Prison Industry Has Become A Predatory Entity In.......2007-06-09
The book was very interesting. I learned soooo much about the government and the prison industry. I did some searching independantly to check on the things reported in the book and they are very true. Great Read!! Buy the book.
A Must Read.......2007-05-25
Mr. Demico's book is a must-read for anyone concerned about young African American men. Although I did not agree with every conclusion he reached, Demico's main premises are convincing. As a white woman who teaches mainly students of color, I am always impressed, and often in awe, of those young men who reach college with so much going against them. Demico's books lays bare not only the horrible inequalities of our society, but also the racist attitudes of our political system - - Democrats, Republicans, and most everyone in between.
Why are so many Black Men in Prison?.......2007-05-13
I is a well put together book. He really goes into a lot of detail of how our society is really set up.
Why are so many blacks in prison?.......2007-05-12
I found this book very interesting. As a white devil myself, I had no idea that I was responsible for forcing blacks into committing crimes and then subsequently clogging up the whole "Prison Industrial Complex"(tm). I will try to stop causing this, as I am sure it is creating a LOT of trouble for everyone! Sorry!
It is probably also my fault that young black men dressed in XXXXL clothes overtly threaten me and my family members routinely. Can anyone tell me what I should do to make this not happen?
I imagine it's also my fault that black on white violent crime is WAY higher than white on black violent crime, even though blacks constitute about 12.5% of the population, and whites are about 70%. But since it is impossible for a black to commit a hate crime according to our criminal justice system (since blacks are not under any circumstances racist), statistically, there are more white on black hate crimes. Boothe notes a statistic regarding hate crimes, but he skips the one about interracial violence in general.
In sum, Boothe notes that just about everything blacks do is actually MY fault, because my skin is white. Boothe, I've got a word for you.
Introspection.
Book Description
The USAAC's Tuskegee Experiment, designed to prove that African-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft, ironically resulted in the creation of one of the USAAF's elite units.
Crewed by highly-educated and exceptionally motivated men, the 99th Fighter Squadron, led by Col Benjamin O. Davis (later joined by the 100th, 301st, and 302nd FS to form the 332nd Fighter Group), first flew ground attack missions in P-40s in North Africa and participated in the destruction and surrender of Pantelleria, off Sicily. Later, after the unit was equipped with P-51 Mustangs, the 'Redtails' began flying escort missions deep into Germany.
The unit scoreboard boasted 111 aerial kills (including several Me 262 jets), 150 strafing victories, 950 vehicles and railway rolling stock destroyed, and the sinking of a German destroyer by war's end. The group were both feared and respected by the Germans, who called them the "Schwartze Voglemenschen" (Black Birdmen), and revered by others as the "Black Red-tail Angels", partly because of their distinct red-tailed aircraft, and partly because they never lost a bomber under escort to enemy attack (a feat which was unmatched by any other USAAF fighter group in World War II). The pilots of the 332nd FG attribute their success to the discipline instilled by Col Davis, who is reputed to have told them, 'If you lose a bomber, don't bother to come back.'
This book will reveal the true story of the unit who rose above discrimination to achieve elite status.
Customer Reviews:
Unbelievable.Inspiring to say the least........2007-04-02
Before I even finished the 1st chapter of this book I was well impressed by the exploits of these men even as they were in training for combat missions in Europe(40 Tuskegee graduates,I learned actually went to the Pacific as aerial spotters which I'm now very eager to learn about as well.). I had previously thought myself somewhat familiar with the Tuskegee Airmen,this book instantly proved me wrong.Reading about the accomplishments of these intrepid men literally sent shivers down my spine. I was deeply affected by the numbers of them who met tragic ends, both during and after the war. Very few,it seemed,were actually shot down and they never lost an aircraft under their escort to enemy fighters.
The book approaches the subject in a no-nonsense textbook-like method which takes you right into the action, even before members' deployments. It provides numerous,if brief statements on individual missions and members' personalities and it accounts various engagements,accidents,victories,bail-outs,downed pilot rescues and E&E's(escape and evasions).It also touches on members' post-war accomplishments.This book crams an incredible amount of information into a space of just over 120 pages and is rich with photographs and detailed color illustrations of aircraft and insignia. The only additional information I would have liked to have seen would be appendices devoted to KIA's and awards.
I am now eager to learn more about these gallant men who trully serve as shining examples of great Americans who ignored adversity and perservered. I'd be grateful if I could be half the man that is any given member of this squadron.
Another Outstanding Osprey Monograph.......2007-03-10
Always readable and well illustrated, Osprey books provide details and specifics in one volume that satisfy the beginner or the specialist. This Elite volume is not different. Good anecdotes, statistics, and model markings/liveries that are complete. Outstanding buy.
Their saga comes to life, here........2007-03-05
Chris Bucholtz's 332ND FIGHTER GROUP - TUSKEGEE AIRMEN adds to the 'Aviation Elite Units' series and covers a Tuskegee Experiment designed to prove that Afro-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft: an experiment which created one of aviation's top units. The group proved victorious, sink a German naval vessel, and was feared and respected by the Germans. Their saga comes to life, here.
Great Book.......2007-02-22
My husband said this was the most comprehensive book he has ever seen on the Tuskegee Airmen. It actually has paint scheme illustrations that allow you to see many versions of the planes. Thanks for the publication!
Insightful History of a Pioneer Fighter Group!.......2007-02-15
The black airmen who comprised the 332nd Fighter Group fought two enemies in World War II - Axis fliers and bigoted American military commanders who believed blacks were only fit for menial tasks. That the "Red Tails" not only survived but thrived reflects greatly on men who served in the group and especially on its lone wartime commander, Benjamin O. Davis. The story of the 332nd's two-front war is told in this excellent Osprey 'Aviation Elite Units' volume by Chris Bucholtz.
The racism that was rampant in America was reflected in the top American leadership, SecWar Stimson stating that Negroes did not possess leadership abilities. If not for the efforts of President Roosevelt and his wife, blacks may indeed have been relegated to staffing mess halls in World War II.
Eventually the all-black 99th FS, commanded by Capt. Davis, was formed and entered combat in the MTO in June 1943 flying P-40s. Attached to the 33rd FG, the 99th turned in a commendable performance yet 33rd FG CO William Momyer & higher 12th AF commanders actively schemed against the unit and even misrepresented its achievements in official documents. Davis was forced to return stateside and testify before a Congressional committee. Following a comprehensive investigation of all MTO P-40 units, Davis and his squadron were vindicated. The 99th was later transferred to the 15th AF and joined into the all-black 332nd FG. Known as the "Red-Tails," the 332nd, equipped with P-51s and led by now-Col. Davis, ran up an outstanding record on bomber escort missions, claims being made that the Group never lost a bomber to enemy action while under their care. By war's end the Tuskegee Airmen had racked up over 400 e/a destroyed including 119 air kills, and earned a DUC. Almost 100 black airmen became POWs or were KIA.
Author Chris Bucholtz' narrative is a finely balanced effort showcasing the Group's aerial combats - and fighter bomber missions - while underscoring the dogged determination of Davis & Co. to prove that black airmen were equal to the task. Unlike other 'Aviation Elite Unit' books which basically relate the combat history of a unit, this volume also gives you a glimpse of the social history of the times these men lived in. Over 100 black and white photographs and eight pages of top-notch Jim Laurier color profiles compliment the text.
All in all, a fascinating, exciting chronicle of some very brave, determined men and their tough-as-nails commander.
Average customer rating:
- War in Africa
- I Am Killing, Killing, Killing
- a universal language of conflict
- Highly recommended
- chilling and all too real
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Beasts of No Nation: A Novel (P.S.)
Uzodinma Iweala
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
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The Sea (Man Booker Prize)
ASIN: 0060798688
Release Date: 2006-08-15 |
Book Description
In this stunning debut novel, Agu, a young boy in an unnamed West African nation, is recruited into a unit of guerrilla fighters as civil war engulfs his country. Haunted by his father's own death at the hands of militants, Agu is vulnerable to the dangerous yet paternal nature of his new commander. While the war rages on, Agu becomes increasingly divorced from the life he had known before the conflict started—a life of school friends, church services, and time with his family still intact.
In a powerful, strikingly original voice that vividly captures Agu's youth and confusion, Uzodinma Iweala has produced a harrowing, inventive, and deeply affecting novel.
Customer Reviews:
War in Africa.......2007-07-29
A first-person acccount of the experiences of a young boy, forced into a war. Vivid and credible. Hard to set it down before finishing. Then impossible to forget it. (We all need to be aware of the forces that are displayed here!)
I Am Killing, Killing, Killing.......2007-05-16
In a special wing in the House of Fiction there lives a notable band of young characters and child narrators. They began taking up residence in the Romantic era, trailing clouds of glory, singing songs of innocence, an implicit critique of the hyper-rationalistic Enlightenment which poets like Blake and Wordsworth rebelled against.
A generation later, Dickens reserved rooms for young men such as Oliver Twist and David Copperfield. Masterfully using the third person narrative style, Dickens shadowed these youngsters through their daily lives, telling their stories as a means to shame a complacent bourgeoisie into closing the workhouses, reforming the factory system and putting into place child labor laws.
Then ol' Huck Finn arrived. Unlike these earlier protagonists, Huck actually inhabited the role of narrator. Armed with a rough but ready moral compass that guided him through the fallen world of southern slavery, Huck related his complex and redemptive tale in his own frontier first-person vernacular.
One could venture to say that every era gets the young characters and narrators (and social critics) it deserves. And here's where "Beasts of No Nation" comes in. Through Agu, our first-person child narrator, we experience the brutal excitement and mind-bending horror of guerilla warfare as experienced by a child soldier in West Africa. A pre-adolescent boy orphaned by war and drafted at the blade of a machete to join an anonymous war, Agu tells us his horrific story in present tense pidgin English.
So why does "Beasts of No Nation," fail to measure up to anything approaching these great works of fiction? It's my opinion that the book's structure, told partly in flashbacks interferes. Because we are immediately thrust into the story of his forced conversion to murderous child soldier within the first few pages, we know immediately what the story is about. In those great classics cited earlier, the stories unfold in such a way that we come to know the character or the narrator first before we recognize where our journey is taking us. Huck, for instance, doesn't tell us in the first few pages that he's going to help Jim to freedom, then light out for the Territory. We accompany him on his journey, and discover as he does the meaning of that journey.
Perhaps if we'd come to know Agu before his country is plunged into civil war, gotten to know him and his social circumstances more fully, experienced the horrific ruptures the war brought to his village, the book might have more effectively communicated the blood drenched madness of war.
Or, if he had used the strategy Faulkner used in "The Sound and the Fury" where Benjy and Quentin related the story of their sister Cassie in broken shards, half-mad ramblings or looping indirection, the style might have communicated this disruption. Instead we have Agu's present tense pidgin which never reaches the demented poetic heights of Faulkner.
There's better novels to read if you want to get a visceral understanding of war: "The Red Badge of Courage," "All Quiet on the Western Front," "The Naked and the Dead," "Catch-22," "The Things They Carried" among many, many others.
Or for a truly brutal novel of war as told by a child narrator, try Jerzy Kozinski's "The Painted Bird" whose narrator coolly, robotically reports on the horrors he witnessed as he wandered through a ravaged Eastern Europe during WWII.
a universal language of conflict.......2007-04-02
Iweala's book is an introspective take on what geos on on the inside of those caught in rthe middle of all kinds of conflict.
The language of Agu is one that conveys innocence violated
Highly recommended.......2007-02-17
The abuse and systematic identity-destruction of this boy-child is stunning for its clarity in conveying the possibility of something that seems so impossible that it cannot even be imagined. Horrifying, compelling, dramatic. The ending suggests redemption, but it is hard to imagine that anyone ever fully overcomes such a horrendous experience. Iweala says in an interview in the back of the book that the "voice" of Agu is a character in itself. For whatever reason, I didn't want when I realized this book is his first to grant Iweala my uncritical support. But he won me over, i.e., I have to agree that the voice of Agu in this book is a remarkably creative literary achievement -- and not just for a debut novel. Sophisticated craftsmanship ... kind of scary coming from one so young, but also very impressive.
chilling and all too real.......2007-02-13
Anyone reading What is the What will also want to take notice of this spare, stark book. Our senses may be dulled by the endless headlines and staggering numbers, but this story of one boy soldier's journey humanizes horror in the same way that The Diary of Anne Frank did.
Customer Reviews:
Black KnightsI.......2007-09-26
I have only read half of the book to date. My review based on what I read so far is that the book seems to be accurate, according to my understanding of the History I've read on the subject.
review for my class, part 2.......2002-03-31
The middle of the book is a detailed record of significant air battles in which the Tuskegee Airmen were involved. At this point, the reader becomes less compelled to read every sentence of every page as the book makes a transition from being a presentation of the Tuskegee Experience's fight for existence to more of a day-by-day record of many of the missions the airmen flew. Certain phrases become cliché in the telling of each story, and the reader gets somewhat lost in the seemingly endless listings of names and how many kills were becoming associated with each. While the special care taken to preserve detailed historical accuracy is impressive, the book could greatly benefit from including more personal accounts by the airmen themselves. The preface tells of the many interviews that the authors conducted to gather information for their project; the reader is disappointed to find out that virtually none of these interviews are described in detail, let alone even directly quoted. Including detailed firsthand accounts of the pilots' individual experiences would certainly have helped to break the monotony of this part of the book, and unquestionably would have made it more interesting.
One thing that the book does very well is to give credit not just to the pilots who saw combat action in the war, but also to all of the people that made it possible for them to get there. It should be noted that, although initially it was not the case, the Tuskegee Army Air Field was staffed almost entirely by black soldiers at every level. Everyone from mess hall workers, to entertainers, to mechanics, to weather observers was black. White soldiers only held assignments there temporarily while black soldiers were being rotated into their positions. Chapter XVII, titled "The Unsung Warriors," is dedicated entirely to presenting the foundation of the Tuskegee Experience. This is a very important piece of the Tuskegee puzzle because, for example, if there were no ground crews, the planes would never have flown. Other works tend to give all of the glory to the combat-seasoned pilots, while this book does a very complete job of evenly distributing the credit. Another example of the completeness of Black Knights is Chapter XIII, which deals with the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium). Although these bomber crews never saw combat, they were another part of the on-going story of blacks' struggle for equality. Lastly, the roster of Tuskegee graduates in the appendix of the book further supports the authors' mission to create a concise historical record of the Tuskegee Experience.
Black Knights also gives a clear view of the original intent of the Tuskegee Experiment. For the most part, the higher powers responsible for the creation of a black training facility approved the program with the intent of proving its failure. The book does a good job of showing how certain people at the slightly-lower levels were the saviors of the whole program. Besides the efforts of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. to promote the program, certain other benefactors are given appropriate mention as well. Colonel Noel F. Parrish is one such example, who, after taking over command of Tuskegee Army Air Field, did so much to boost morale at the base that he is given almost as much recognition as Colonel Davis for helping to save the program.
The book's timeline seems to break up in the last chapter of the book. In Chapter XIX, entitled "Black Birds," a brief overview of the history of black fliers is given. While one can appreciate the contribution those pilots made to aviation, it did not have a direct effect on the creation of the Tuskegee Experience. The authors would have done well to simply omit the last chapter; placed at the end of the book, it seems out of place and its spotty detail is a bit awkward to follow simply because it seems out of sequence. This material would carry more meaning if it was instead placed at the beginning of the book, and also perhaps if it was simply integrated into the first chapter.
All in all the authors did a fine job of recounting the story of the brave men who came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. As the title suggests, Black Knights: the Story of the Tuskegee Airmen accurately illustrates the fierce crusade that was fought against racism and segregation. While certainly a very complete work, Black Knights is not about drama. It presents the facts for what they were; for that, it deserves appreciation, but it has little to offer as far as gripping tales of fast-paced dogfights and personal experiences.
review written for my class, part 1 of 2.......2002-03-31
Well, I had to review it for my class so I thought I'd put it up here too(broken in half to stay in the 1K word limit).
Black Knights: the Story of the Tuskegee Airmen is a concisely written historical account of the struggles faced by young black men during World War II to establish themselves as pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps, though it leaves something to be desired. The concise details and statistics show an obvious effort to preserve the accuracy of the records kept of the events surrounding the Tuskegee Experience. With that in mind, it should also be noted that when describing certain controversial issues, the authors offer a mostly unbiased perspective. However, certain areas of the book are somewhat lacking. Some elements seem slightly out of place, almost as if they were thrown in solely for the purpose of increasing the bulk of the book. It can be appreciated that the authors took considerable effort to give credit not just to the fliers that saw combat, but also to the entire support structure that gave them that chance. On the other hand, this may have been slightly overdone. Overall, Black Knights is good source of factual history, but is not an overly compelling piece of literature.
The authors, Lynn Homan and Thomas Reilly, wrote this book as a sort of rewrite of a previous work of theirs, The Tuskegee Airmen, with the intention of creating a more complete historical account. Out of respect for the airmen, the Tuskegee Experience is a term used throughout the book in reference to the social experiment that was formulated by the United States War Department to prove that black men could not fly advanced warplanes. Having previously been referred to as the Tuskegee Experiment, the term Tuskegee Experience has been requested by the airmen themselves as an alternative to the former term which has been confused with an unrelated government medical research project, as explained in the preface. This is the ninth book that Homan and Reilly have written together during their time together in which they have traveled across the country giving lectures and organizing museum exhibits on the Tuskegee Experience. Black Knights is simply an extension of their work, intended to present the Experience as a whole.
The first part of the book is a chronological account of how the Tuskegee Airmen came to be. Two distinct views are presented; while blacks were finally being given the chance to fly, there were some who were against the idea of an all-black flight training facility. Besides the obvious racist opponents, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was among those who did not want to see a segregated airfield. The supporters of the idea believed that the young black soldiers would thrive in an environment of their own, kept isolated from the hardships that would be imposed upon them in an integrated military. If segregated, they would not have to be subject to cruelties dealt them by fellow soldiers that would have been detrimental to their morale. Others argued that it only added to the problem of ending segregation and opposed the creation of an all-black airfield on the grounds that separate training facilities and unit organizations would be more costly than an integrated military.
The authors seem to express a slight leaning towards being in agreement with the NAACP's standpoint on the issue, that is, anti-segregation. What they fail to point out, however, is that while segregation is inherently evil, the effect it had actually benefited the outcome of what was to become the Tuskegee Experience. An analogy can be made to illustrate this point. A wall representing racial segregation had to be taken down to make integration possible. If the military integrated black fliers into the white ranks, they would have been subject to unknown cruelties by racist whites and would have had nowhere to turn. One could compare this to attempting to disassemble the aforementioned wall piece-by-piece. On the other hand, as one united, all-black unit, all obstacles in their way were faced by the group as a whole. By having been given the chance to prove themselves in war, they acted as a battering ram to demolish the barrier of segregation. The authors seem to present the arrangement as a failure as far as the battle for integration was concerned; rather, the Tuskegee Experience provided unmistakable proof that black pilots could perform admirably, and effectively paved the way for future desegregation.
Depth of research: 5 stars. Quality of editing: 3 stars........2001-10-18
You have to appreciate the amount of effort that went into assembling this book. Even the casually interested reader will finish "Black Knights" with a greater appreciation for the young men who completed the Tuskeegee Experience and went on to serve their country in WWII and beyond. Archival detail is impressive, down to an appendix that offers a roster of all Tuskeegee graduates. Can a future reprint offer the service history of each individual as well?
The book itself presents exhaustive research into the the origins of the program, testimony for and against its development, and records of Tuskeegee-trained airmen in combat and in the post-war USAF. But two-thirds of the way into the book, once the title material is exhausted, it begins a survey of pre-WWII black aviation pioneers. This material is also well-researched, but a bit awkward in its sequence and given the title. Should this have been published as two separate books?
Voluminous research presented the authors with a great challenge: how could all the information be made readable? The authors often succeeded at this task. Note the story of the 99th squadron's first air-to-air kill, and how that is woven back into the discussion of the Army Air Corps' resistance to establishing the squadron in the first place.
This is a good read, if not always compelling. Youth in search of heros need to look beyond the sports and recording industries to discover the Tuskeegee Airmen. Excerpts from this book may provide that introduction.
Good job, could have been better.............2001-08-29
A mixed bag to me, this book was an ordinary book about an extraordinary subject, those brave black men whose more subtle enemy was the pervasive racism back home. When he authors stick to the stories told about the racial obstacles placed in the "Black Knights" paths in such AAF bases as Alabama, Michigan, and Indiana, a compelling story is told. The Army wanted and expected black fliers to fail, and they not only didn't fail, they were superb soldiers and pilots. But, when the book moves into their combat experiences, the pace of the book slows down, instead using a day-to-day litany of the various units, culled directly from daily unit reports. This section of the book could have used more personal reminiscences from the many old fliers interviewed for the book. It's just page after page of mundane, "flip through" stuff. And the book suffers from spotty editing(Thurgood Marshall never was Chief Justice; the famous and versatile German flak gun was the 88, not the 188, for example). For a better look at combat conditions in the Italian Theater in '44-'45, read Stephen Ambrose's new book "The Wild Blue", about the men who flew the B-24s. Feel the absolute admiration that young B-24 pilot(and future Presidental candidate) George McGovern felt towards the Tuskegee Airmen, who got his crew home safe and sound every time. The excellent last chapter is curiously a history of early black aviation. I would have opened the book with it, rather than closed. The best chapter to me was about the 1945 Freeman Field Mutiny, when over 100 officers risked court martial because they were denied entry to the segregated base Officer's Club; early civil disobedience. The Army, faced with an uncertain outcome to the Japan Theater, backed down eventually. The hero of the book? Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr, a superb officer and a great leader.
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- The White Rose: Munich, 1942-1943
- Thermopylae: The Battle for the West
- To Be a U.S. Army Green Beret (To Be A)
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