Overview

This commemoration of African-Americans in the U.S. military includes contributions from prominent historian Hal Chase, W. Stephen Morris, and Luther H. Smith, one of the most-celebrated Tuskegee Airmen. Other black military heroes featured in the book include Crispus Attucks, the first man to die in the Revolutionary War; Lt. James Reese Europe, who brought jazz music to Europe in 1918; Lt. Charity Adams, commander of the only all-black Women's Army Corps unit during World War II; and Gen. Colin Powell, who served with distinction in Vietnam, became the first African-American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War, and retired a four-star general before becoming the first African-American Secretary of State.

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9780760339176

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Reviews

Ebony , April 2011 This 160-page book features lovely and poignant black-and-white images of our soldiers in peacetime and wartime, with their wives or out in the field. Chicago Sun-Times , February 27, 2011 Most of us know Colin Powell, the Tuskegee Airmen and the Buffalo Soldiers, but Robert Morris broadens our horizon in this handsome coffee-table book, which includes more than 250 archival images of African Americans who have served in the United States armed forces throughout history. North County Times (San Diego, CA), February 27, 2011 Robert Morris' Black Faces of War provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on how black Americans served and died for a nation that for the majority of its history neither desired nor appreciated their selfless service...Morris has created a moving written and pictorial reminder of the service and sacrifices black Americans have made in their effort to achieve greatness.

<p> Booklist , February 2011<br> The history of African Americans and the military is complicated by blacks' efforts to fight for recognition as citizens to be able to serve in the military as well as the rigors of fighting overseas once in the military. Morris, the grandson of two decorate army officers, offers a sweeping look at the history of the American military service by African American men and women. He includes profiles of historic figures, including Crispus Attucks, the first man to die in the American Revolution, and Harriet Tubman, who served with the Union during the Civil War, as well as profiles and interviews with more contemporary figures in the military, including the Tuskegee airmen; Lieutenant James Reese Europe, who introduced jazz to Europe during his service in WWI; and General Colin Powell, who served in Vietnam and later became the first black chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and first black secretary of state. Morris draws on archival material to present personal stories of service and sacrifice, along with illustrations and photographs that add to the appeal of this book. <br><br> Tucson Citizen (online), January 31, 2011<br> http: //tucsoncitizen.com/shelflife/ <br> The research of this book took two years and is exceptional. The text is crisply written and accessible. Morris claims that finding first-person accounts was sometimes difficult but it is what makes his new work so interesting. This is first-rate historical reporting and also an important literary contribution to our national history since Black Faces of War fills in many missing pieces and highlights information that has often been ignored or simply relegated to footnotes by other historians.

<p> Booklist, February 2011<br> The history of African Americans and the military is complicated by blacks' efforts to fight for recognition as citizens to be able to serve in the military as well as the rigors of fighting overseas once in the military. Morris, the grandson of two decorate army officers, offers a sweeping look at the history of the American military service by African American men and women. He includes profiles of historic figures, including Crispus Attucks, the first man to die in the American Revolution, and Harriet Tubman, who served with the Union during the Civil War, as well as profiles and interviews with more contemporary figures in the military, including the Tuskegee airmen; Lieutenant James Reese Europe, who introduced jazz to Europe during his service in WWI; and General Colin Powell, who served in Vietnam and later became the first black chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and first black secretary of state. Morris draws on archival material to presen

Author Information

Robert V. Morris was editor and publisher for the Iowa State Bystander; was Des Moines Register guest editorialist on multiple essays and features including The 10 Most Influential African-Americans of the 20th Century; and co-authored Outside In: The African American History of Iowa 1830-2000. He lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

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