African Americans have long used the military for gaining legitimacy and as the ultimate path to citizenship. Blacks in the Military and Beyond thoughtfully chronicles their tumultuous journey from slavery through the present, extending the ourstory to pre-service, in service and post-service economic considerations as significant factors in determining whether or not serving in the military has advantaged Blacks, and how such mechanisms like the periodic drawing down of forces have impacted Blacks overall. G.L.A. Harris and Evelyn L. Lewis delve into the role of the military as a conduit in helping to create and sustain the Black middle class, challenging the military to be more strategic as to the long term effects of its decisions to be ever mindful of upholding its moral compact with African Americans.

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Apportioned into three parts, this volume chronicles the long and tortured saga of African Americans and military service, analyzes its current state, and assesses its prospects for the future. Authors Harris and Lewis, both African American female veterans, bring a powerful perspective to the “ourstory,” centered on African American aspirations and their ongoing negotiations with racism (p. xv). From the 17th century onward, the white need for black soldiers existed in tension with the fear of arming blacks. African Americans, however, used the chance for military service to demonstrate their humanity and fitness for first-class citizenship and to seek upward mobility. Since then, African American veterans have experienced gains in the military and the larger society because of military service, but not to the same degree as whites. Similarly, African Americans have borne the brunt of recent drawdowns and encounter continued structural racism in the military, making younger African Americans less likely than earlier generations to see the military as a path to betterment. In order to earn the trust of the younger generation, the authors call on the military to continue to work to overcome its institutional racism.

Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty.