Review by Choice Review
Over 250 entries cover individuals and events from Colonial America to present military history. Sutherland "aims to place the African American in the military context of the United States and for the first time to detail the complete history." The alphabetical arrangement provides easy access to biographical information, legislation, personal accounts, regiments, and the like. Essays vary in length and include cross-references, sources for further reading (including Web sites), captioned black-and-white photographs, maps, charts, and other illustrations. The appendix contains a chronology from 1639 on, service records, battles, postings, desegregation chronology, Medals of Honor, and "Historic Sites of African American Military Significance." The thematic bibliography and general index conclude the set. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All libraries. S. D. Campbell University of Arkansas at Monticello
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
This encyclopedia is devoted exclusively to the war experiences of African Americans, beginning with King William's War in the late seventeenth century and extending to events just before the outbreak of the second Gulf War. The alphabetically ordered entries conclude with see also and further reading references. There are more than 250 entries conveying biographical, thematic, and conceptual information. Well-known leaders (Colin Powell), groups (Buffalo Soldiers), specific units (Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, made famous in the movie Glory), and battles (Bunker Hill) have their own entries. So do landmark legislation (G.I. Bill), long-forgotten governmental agencies (Bureau of Colored Troops), and notable speeches (Call to Rebellion, delivered at the 1843 National Negro Convention). Most entries range from half a page to three pages, and the references range from one to six sources, including Web sites. Entries covering major conflicts, from the American Revolution to Vietnam, are among the longest, with World War II receiving almost 50 pages. These longer entries are made more user-friendly with subheadings like The Impact of the Draft and Experience in Combat. There are pleasant surprises among entries focusing on lesser-known subjects, for example, an article on Phoebe Jeter, the only African American woman to direct the launch of a Patriot missile during the first Gulf War, and Z-Gram 66, a policy directive issued in 1970 by Admiral Zumwalt\b in response to declining African American participation in Vietnam. Volume 2 contains an excellent and detailed 40-plus-page chronology, as well as the formation, service records, battles, and postings of colored troops through the years and Medal of Honor recipients. More than 100 photos are interspersed throughout the set, and numerous charts and statistics are included (number of blacks in the armed services, African Americans in certain military ranks, etc.). The inclusiveness and comprehensiveness of this encyclopedia make it impressive, though it will no doubt need to be updated eventually to include the second Gulf War. This is a superb resource for any high-school, public, or undergraduate library looking to enrich its history, military, or African American studies collections. -- RBB Copyright 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up-The roles African-American men and women have played in military conflicts from Colonial times to the present day are covered in this alphabetically arranged resource. Entries range from a few paragraphs to several pages; many cover individuals who have become firsts in their field or area, such as Crispus Attucks, first to die in the Revolutionary War, and Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., the first African-American general in the U.S. Army. A number of articles examine aspects of service in the Civil War, including that of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the 1st South Carolina Volunteers. Use of the table of contents will allow readers to note the range of subjects covered and to locate overviews on such topics as "African American Women in the Military," "Segregation and Racism in the Military," and the "Tuskegee Airmen." Articles include documented quotes, occasional charts, see-also references, and good-quality, black-and-white reproductions and photos. The second volume ends with a chronology, lists of battles, Medal of Honor winners, two detailed indexes, and more. While not all libraries will need this specialized resource, it is a useful and accessible set.-Janet Woodward, Garfield High School, Seattle, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
Review by School Library Journal Review
