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To Serve My Country, to Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African-American WACS Stationed Overseas During World War II Paperback – August 1, 1997

by Brenda L. Moore (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 37 ratings
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The story of the historic 6888th, the first United States Women's Army Corps unit of African American women to serve overseas

While African American men and white women were invited, if belatedly, to serve their country abroad, African American women were excluded for overseas duty throughout most of WWII. However, under political pressure from legislators like Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., the NAACP, the Black press, and even President Roosevelt, the US War Department was forced to deploy African American women to the European theater in 1945.

African American women answered the call to serve from all over the country, from every socioeconomic stratum. Stationed in France and England at the end of World War II, the 6888th brought together women like Mary Daniel Williams, a cook in the unit who signed up for the Army to escape the slums of Cleveland and to improve her ninth-grade education, and Margaret Barnes Jones, the unit’s public relations officer, who grew up in a comfortable household with a politically active mother who encouraged her to challenge the system.

Despite the social, political, and economic restrictions imposed upon these women in their own country, they were eager to serve, not only out of patriotism but out of a desire to uplift their race and dispel bigoted preconceptions about their abilities. Elaine Bennett, a First Sergeant, joined because "I wanted to prove to myself and maybe to the world that we would give what we had back to the United States as a confirmation that we were full- fledged citizens."

Filled with compelling personal stories based on extensive interviews, To Serve My Country, To Serve My Race is the first book to document the lives of these courageous pioneers. It reveals how their Army experience affected them for the rest of their lives and how they, in turn, transformed the US military forever.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    August 1, 1997
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.76 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0814755879
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0814755877
  7. See all details
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  1. One Woman's Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC (Texas A & M University Military History Series, #12) (Volume 12)
  2. Standing Up Against Hate: How Black Women in the Army Helped Change the Course of WWII
  3. Sisters in Arms: A Novel of the Daring Black Women Who Served During World War II
  4. Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II (Women of Action)
  5. Glory in Their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took On the Army during World War II (Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American Hi
  6. Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A rich, comprehensive study." ― Philadelphia New Observer

"Drawing on the testimony of former members of the unit, Moore recounts its formation, training and service in the European theater of operations in 1945-46, highlighting the discrimination women faced because of their race and gender. . . . An important contribution to African American and gender studies ." ― Publishers Weekly

"Moore has made an incredible discovery. This book will be a major contribution to military studies, African American studies, and women's studies." ― Booklist

"This work fills the void that has been created by scholars of military institutions. It represents an original analysis of the experience of women of African descent who served their country in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. Her robust analysis of their feelings, motivations and experience within the military provides the reader with a moving tale of accomplishments of black women during a critical point in the history of the country. Professor Moore's separation of race and gender effects in the book is excellent, and brings out the fact that women of African descent must be seen in their own historical light if one is to understand their unique history. This book makes a significant contribution to military sociology, gender studies, American studies, and race and ethnic relations." -- John Sibley Butler,The University of Texas at Austin, author of Entrepreneurship and Self-Help Among Black Americans: A Reconsideration of Race and Economics

"A fascinating account of black women in the armed forces in World War II. We are indebted to Brenda Moore for recording this story while these women are still with us. Moore gives powerful new insights for African American studies, gender studies, and military history." -- Charles Moskos,Professor of Sociology, Northwestern University

About the Author

Brenda L. Moore is Associate Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York, Buffalo. A Presidential Appointee to the American Battle Monuments Commission, she served on active duty for six years in the US Army in the United States and Europe.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ NYU Press (August 1, 1997)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0814755879
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0814755877
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.04 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.76 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 37 ratings

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Brenda L. Moore

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
37 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

karen taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Educational
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2022
Verified Purchase
Loved learning more about the 6888 women and seeing their names listed,
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nylady
5.0 out of 5 stars A great buy for the price
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2016
Verified Purchase
A great buy for the price.I highly recommend this as a must read for everyone. I read it a long time ago and was glad I was able to find it on Amazon as I no longer had mine and it's worth re reading . These wonderful woman that severed the USA should be honored and thanked by our country and it's people .
2 people found this helpful
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william
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2015
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Great Book!
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Ruby Aridi
4.0 out of 5 stars I would recommend this book - it breaks through the stereotypes and ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2015
Verified Purchase
I learned of this book attending an event at the Women's Heritage Center in Baltimore. I was born in England and was a child
during WWII. Learning that black women in the military had served in England perked my interest, why was this not more widely
known. I would recommend this book - it breaks through the stereotypes and highlights the prejudice these brave women were
subjected to. Their service to their country should be recognized more.
One person found this helpful
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Shannan Harper
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a great read
Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2023
After reading Sisters in Arms by Kia Alderson, I had to go back to some of the resources she used. This was such an informative book. I really loved hearing about the black women who were there. Just to read what some of our elders and ancestors went through was more of an eye opener. I love an always devour stories like this, and I will continue to do so. Such a good read and resource
One person found this helpful
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scott t.
2.0 out of 5 stars Good historical record and social commentary.... lousy story!
Reviewed in the United States on June 6, 2022
2022... saw a quick tv piece about these incredible women of the 6888th Postal and what they accomplished and overcame. Snagged the book from the library system. What a disappointment. The author, 25 years ago, was an academic but still in the Army. This reads like a resource book with tons of verified facts and figures, a little bit of personal info, but zero storyline that follows individuals and their journeys. Feels outdated in that way. Basically a slog to read. So many good recent books about women during wartime, or in the space age, with well done stories to hold attention. Professor Moore just wasn't one of those authors.
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baffle Raffle
3.0 out of 5 stars sHORT ON STORY LONG ON FACTS
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book turn out not to be one of my favorites books on the subject of Woman in World 2. I wanted to know more about these brave women who fought for their country,even if that country did not give them equal rights as citizens. All I got was a bunch of statistics and chart,and a few lines from the woman themselves. I had learned more from another book I read about Women in WW11. Very few short quotes and more facts and figures to work with. In fact the first part of the book is more about all woman then African American Woman.She spend alot of time on how the different units where set up but not enough time on the units or the woman themselfs.I would have loved to hear more from the Woman of 6888,tnen dry facts. This book reads much like a term paper,I was disappointed in the book as a whole. Be one of the few books about African Americans in history it it worth a quick look. We own a great deal to brave Woman of both races who fought in WW11--Baffle Raffle over and out
5 people found this helpful
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John P. Willis
4.0 out of 5 stars Best coverage od black WACS who wewre first to serve overseas.
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
This book is the second book dealing with this WAC unit the other was one written by the Commander Charity Adams Early. It provides good coverage of the women who enlisted and gives a complete roster in an appendix.
3 people found this helpful
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