History Forum with Matthew Delmont
December 7, 2024
Overview
More than one million Black soldiers served in World War II, serving in segregated units while waging a dual battle against inequality in the very country for which they were laying down their lives. The stories of these Black veterans have long been ignored, cast aside in favor of the myth of the “Good War” fought by the “Greatest Generation.” And yet without their sacrifices, the United States could not have won the war. In his new book Half American, Matthew Delmont tells the stories of Black military heroes and civil rights icons that fought for a Double Victory: against facism abroad and against racism at home. An essential and meticulously researched retelling of the war that honors the men and women who dared to fight not just for democracy abroad, but for their dreams of a freer and more equal America.
History Forum with Matthew Delmont