Book Description
Long before Civil Rights, the Tuskegee Airmen fought for equality. First they integrated the Armed Forces, then a whole nation and did it with competency, skill, valor, and courage in combating the enemy abroad and racism at home. Because they stood tall, African Americans and fellow Americans are the better for it. The book of over 500 pages also contains about 100 photos, an appendix full of documents, and an Index of 25 pages.
Customer Reviews:
Valuable Material, Lousy Presentation.......2002-10-31
The World War II exploits of the 332nd Fighter Group--the first all-black unit in the US Army Air Forces--is a fascinating story on several levels. The pilots of the 332nd fought long and hard in the skies over North Africa, Italy, and Central Europe. They racked up an impressive record of enemy aircraft shot down, ground targets destroyed and--on the bomber-escort missions they often flew--friendly planes brought home safely. They also paved the way for the integration of the armed forces, and of American society generally, by showing that blacks could handle the stress of battle and the demands of high-performance airplanes just as well as whites. In a world where many (most?) whites saw blacks as innately inferior, the Tuskegee Airmen proved otherwise.
This book is a dense, detailed, information-packed history of the 332nd during and immediately after the war. It's a valuable source on a vital topic, and I'm glad it's out there.
That doesn't, however, make it a great book.
The style, for close to 400 pages, is choppy and unpolished with only a vague suggestion of a strong narrative line. Context is spotty at best, and technical terms sometimes go unexplained. The typography is idiosyncratic, and the inexplicable rendering of nicknames in italics and ranks, abbreviated, in ALL CAPS is distracting in a book where names come thick and fast. The type face itself is ugly, and the reproduction of many of the pictures is substandard. The index consists almost solely of personal names, which makes it intensely frustrating to use if you're not already intimately familiar with the story. To look up an incident in which two members of the 332nd sank a German destroyer, you have to know what their names were . . . no entry for "destroyer," or "strafing," or "naval vessels."
If there were other books out there that provide the sheer volume of facts about the subject that this one does, I'd give it about a star-and-a-half. There aren't, but there ought to be. The 332nd was noted for its professionalism; it deserves a more professionally-done history. Until that book gets written, though, this one (flaws and all) is essential.
Most enjoyable and most interesting!.......2000-02-14
In baseball, Jackie Robinson's impact can never be overstated. What he did for the game is immeasurable. In the world of aviation African Americans owe a debt of thanks to a group of men called "The Tuskegee Airmen". Their contributions to aviation are just as immeasurable.
Francis takes the reader back to the time when blacks in the army were living under Order 9981 from President Truman. Francis's gives you the triumphs and failures and brings it to life through each page. This read was truly remarkable.
This is the second book I have read on the Tuskegee Airmen, the first being a biography of Charles F. McGee, and for the second time I was moved by how this group of Officers and enlisted personnel worked through segregation to ensure the civil rights of those to follow.
Army life today, and the African American who serve with honor, can thank the men of this book for what they have. This nation owes a debt of thanks that can never be expressed enough. I am truly thankful to have had the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
Book Description
The USAAC's Tuskegee Experiment, designed to prove that African-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft, ironically resulted in the creation of one of the USAAF's elite units.
Crewed by highly-educated and exceptionally motivated men, the 99th Fighter Squadron, led by Col Benjamin O. Davis (later joined by the 100th, 301st, and 302nd FS to form the 332nd Fighter Group), first flew ground attack missions in P-40s in North Africa and participated in the destruction and surrender of Pantelleria, off Sicily. Later, after the unit was equipped with P-51 Mustangs, the 'Redtails' began flying escort missions deep into Germany.
The unit scoreboard boasted 111 aerial kills (including several Me 262 jets), 150 strafing victories, 950 vehicles and railway rolling stock destroyed, and the sinking of a German destroyer by war's end. The group were both feared and respected by the Germans, who called them the "Schwartze Voglemenschen" (Black Birdmen), and revered by others as the "Black Red-tail Angels", partly because of their distinct red-tailed aircraft, and partly because they never lost a bomber under escort to enemy attack (a feat which was unmatched by any other USAAF fighter group in World War II). The pilots of the 332nd FG attribute their success to the discipline instilled by Col Davis, who is reputed to have told them, 'If you lose a bomber, don't bother to come back.'
This book will reveal the true story of the unit who rose above discrimination to achieve elite status.
Customer Reviews:
Unbelievable.Inspiring to say the least........2007-04-02
Before I even finished the 1st chapter of this book I was well impressed by the exploits of these men even as they were in training for combat missions in Europe(40 Tuskegee graduates,I learned actually went to the Pacific as aerial spotters which I'm now very eager to learn about as well.). I had previously thought myself somewhat familiar with the Tuskegee Airmen,this book instantly proved me wrong.Reading about the accomplishments of these intrepid men literally sent shivers down my spine. I was deeply affected by the numbers of them who met tragic ends, both during and after the war. Very few,it seemed,were actually shot down and they never lost an aircraft under their escort to enemy fighters.
The book approaches the subject in a no-nonsense textbook-like method which takes you right into the action, even before members' deployments. It provides numerous,if brief statements on individual missions and members' personalities and it accounts various engagements,accidents,victories,bail-outs,downed pilot rescues and E&E's(escape and evasions).It also touches on members' post-war accomplishments.This book crams an incredible amount of information into a space of just over 120 pages and is rich with photographs and detailed color illustrations of aircraft and insignia. The only additional information I would have liked to have seen would be appendices devoted to KIA's and awards.
I am now eager to learn more about these gallant men who trully serve as shining examples of great Americans who ignored adversity and perservered. I'd be grateful if I could be half the man that is any given member of this squadron.
Another Outstanding Osprey Monograph.......2007-03-10
Always readable and well illustrated, Osprey books provide details and specifics in one volume that satisfy the beginner or the specialist. This Elite volume is not different. Good anecdotes, statistics, and model markings/liveries that are complete. Outstanding buy.
Their saga comes to life, here........2007-03-05
Chris Bucholtz's 332ND FIGHTER GROUP - TUSKEGEE AIRMEN adds to the 'Aviation Elite Units' series and covers a Tuskegee Experiment designed to prove that Afro-Americans were not capable of flying combat aircraft: an experiment which created one of aviation's top units. The group proved victorious, sink a German naval vessel, and was feared and respected by the Germans. Their saga comes to life, here.
Great Book.......2007-02-22
My husband said this was the most comprehensive book he has ever seen on the Tuskegee Airmen. It actually has paint scheme illustrations that allow you to see many versions of the planes. Thanks for the publication!
Insightful History of a Pioneer Fighter Group!.......2007-02-15
The black airmen who comprised the 332nd Fighter Group fought two enemies in World War II - Axis fliers and bigoted American military commanders who believed blacks were only fit for menial tasks. That the "Red Tails" not only survived but thrived reflects greatly on men who served in the group and especially on its lone wartime commander, Benjamin O. Davis. The story of the 332nd's two-front war is told in this excellent Osprey 'Aviation Elite Units' volume by Chris Bucholtz.
The racism that was rampant in America was reflected in the top American leadership, SecWar Stimson stating that Negroes did not possess leadership abilities. If not for the efforts of President Roosevelt and his wife, blacks may indeed have been relegated to staffing mess halls in World War II.
Eventually the all-black 99th FS, commanded by Capt. Davis, was formed and entered combat in the MTO in June 1943 flying P-40s. Attached to the 33rd FG, the 99th turned in a commendable performance yet 33rd FG CO William Momyer & higher 12th AF commanders actively schemed against the unit and even misrepresented its achievements in official documents. Davis was forced to return stateside and testify before a Congressional committee. Following a comprehensive investigation of all MTO P-40 units, Davis and his squadron were vindicated. The 99th was later transferred to the 15th AF and joined into the all-black 332nd FG. Known as the "Red-Tails," the 332nd, equipped with P-51s and led by now-Col. Davis, ran up an outstanding record on bomber escort missions, claims being made that the Group never lost a bomber to enemy action while under their care. By war's end the Tuskegee Airmen had racked up over 400 e/a destroyed including 119 air kills, and earned a DUC. Almost 100 black airmen became POWs or were KIA.
Author Chris Bucholtz' narrative is a finely balanced effort showcasing the Group's aerial combats - and fighter bomber missions - while underscoring the dogged determination of Davis & Co. to prove that black airmen were equal to the task. Unlike other 'Aviation Elite Unit' books which basically relate the combat history of a unit, this volume also gives you a glimpse of the social history of the times these men lived in. Over 100 black and white photographs and eight pages of top-notch Jim Laurier color profiles compliment the text.
All in all, a fascinating, exciting chronicle of some very brave, determined men and their tough-as-nails commander.
Customer Reviews:
Black KnightsI.......2007-09-26
I have only read half of the book to date. My review based on what I read so far is that the book seems to be accurate, according to my understanding of the History I've read on the subject.
review for my class, part 2.......2002-03-31
The middle of the book is a detailed record of significant air battles in which the Tuskegee Airmen were involved. At this point, the reader becomes less compelled to read every sentence of every page as the book makes a transition from being a presentation of the Tuskegee Experience's fight for existence to more of a day-by-day record of many of the missions the airmen flew. Certain phrases become cliché in the telling of each story, and the reader gets somewhat lost in the seemingly endless listings of names and how many kills were becoming associated with each. While the special care taken to preserve detailed historical accuracy is impressive, the book could greatly benefit from including more personal accounts by the airmen themselves. The preface tells of the many interviews that the authors conducted to gather information for their project; the reader is disappointed to find out that virtually none of these interviews are described in detail, let alone even directly quoted. Including detailed firsthand accounts of the pilots' individual experiences would certainly have helped to break the monotony of this part of the book, and unquestionably would have made it more interesting.
One thing that the book does very well is to give credit not just to the pilots who saw combat action in the war, but also to all of the people that made it possible for them to get there. It should be noted that, although initially it was not the case, the Tuskegee Army Air Field was staffed almost entirely by black soldiers at every level. Everyone from mess hall workers, to entertainers, to mechanics, to weather observers was black. White soldiers only held assignments there temporarily while black soldiers were being rotated into their positions. Chapter XVII, titled "The Unsung Warriors," is dedicated entirely to presenting the foundation of the Tuskegee Experience. This is a very important piece of the Tuskegee puzzle because, for example, if there were no ground crews, the planes would never have flown. Other works tend to give all of the glory to the combat-seasoned pilots, while this book does a very complete job of evenly distributing the credit. Another example of the completeness of Black Knights is Chapter XIII, which deals with the 477th Bombardment Group (Medium). Although these bomber crews never saw combat, they were another part of the on-going story of blacks' struggle for equality. Lastly, the roster of Tuskegee graduates in the appendix of the book further supports the authors' mission to create a concise historical record of the Tuskegee Experience.
Black Knights also gives a clear view of the original intent of the Tuskegee Experiment. For the most part, the higher powers responsible for the creation of a black training facility approved the program with the intent of proving its failure. The book does a good job of showing how certain people at the slightly-lower levels were the saviors of the whole program. Besides the efforts of Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. to promote the program, certain other benefactors are given appropriate mention as well. Colonel Noel F. Parrish is one such example, who, after taking over command of Tuskegee Army Air Field, did so much to boost morale at the base that he is given almost as much recognition as Colonel Davis for helping to save the program.
The book's timeline seems to break up in the last chapter of the book. In Chapter XIX, entitled "Black Birds," a brief overview of the history of black fliers is given. While one can appreciate the contribution those pilots made to aviation, it did not have a direct effect on the creation of the Tuskegee Experience. The authors would have done well to simply omit the last chapter; placed at the end of the book, it seems out of place and its spotty detail is a bit awkward to follow simply because it seems out of sequence. This material would carry more meaning if it was instead placed at the beginning of the book, and also perhaps if it was simply integrated into the first chapter.
All in all the authors did a fine job of recounting the story of the brave men who came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen. As the title suggests, Black Knights: the Story of the Tuskegee Airmen accurately illustrates the fierce crusade that was fought against racism and segregation. While certainly a very complete work, Black Knights is not about drama. It presents the facts for what they were; for that, it deserves appreciation, but it has little to offer as far as gripping tales of fast-paced dogfights and personal experiences.
review written for my class, part 1 of 2.......2002-03-31
Well, I had to review it for my class so I thought I'd put it up here too(broken in half to stay in the 1K word limit).
Black Knights: the Story of the Tuskegee Airmen is a concisely written historical account of the struggles faced by young black men during World War II to establish themselves as pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps, though it leaves something to be desired. The concise details and statistics show an obvious effort to preserve the accuracy of the records kept of the events surrounding the Tuskegee Experience. With that in mind, it should also be noted that when describing certain controversial issues, the authors offer a mostly unbiased perspective. However, certain areas of the book are somewhat lacking. Some elements seem slightly out of place, almost as if they were thrown in solely for the purpose of increasing the bulk of the book. It can be appreciated that the authors took considerable effort to give credit not just to the fliers that saw combat, but also to the entire support structure that gave them that chance. On the other hand, this may have been slightly overdone. Overall, Black Knights is good source of factual history, but is not an overly compelling piece of literature.
The authors, Lynn Homan and Thomas Reilly, wrote this book as a sort of rewrite of a previous work of theirs, The Tuskegee Airmen, with the intention of creating a more complete historical account. Out of respect for the airmen, the Tuskegee Experience is a term used throughout the book in reference to the social experiment that was formulated by the United States War Department to prove that black men could not fly advanced warplanes. Having previously been referred to as the Tuskegee Experiment, the term Tuskegee Experience has been requested by the airmen themselves as an alternative to the former term which has been confused with an unrelated government medical research project, as explained in the preface. This is the ninth book that Homan and Reilly have written together during their time together in which they have traveled across the country giving lectures and organizing museum exhibits on the Tuskegee Experience. Black Knights is simply an extension of their work, intended to present the Experience as a whole.
The first part of the book is a chronological account of how the Tuskegee Airmen came to be. Two distinct views are presented; while blacks were finally being given the chance to fly, there were some who were against the idea of an all-black flight training facility. Besides the obvious racist opponents, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was among those who did not want to see a segregated airfield. The supporters of the idea believed that the young black soldiers would thrive in an environment of their own, kept isolated from the hardships that would be imposed upon them in an integrated military. If segregated, they would not have to be subject to cruelties dealt them by fellow soldiers that would have been detrimental to their morale. Others argued that it only added to the problem of ending segregation and opposed the creation of an all-black airfield on the grounds that separate training facilities and unit organizations would be more costly than an integrated military.
The authors seem to express a slight leaning towards being in agreement with the NAACP's standpoint on the issue, that is, anti-segregation. What they fail to point out, however, is that while segregation is inherently evil, the effect it had actually benefited the outcome of what was to become the Tuskegee Experience. An analogy can be made to illustrate this point. A wall representing racial segregation had to be taken down to make integration possible. If the military integrated black fliers into the white ranks, they would have been subject to unknown cruelties by racist whites and would have had nowhere to turn. One could compare this to attempting to disassemble the aforementioned wall piece-by-piece. On the other hand, as one united, all-black unit, all obstacles in their way were faced by the group as a whole. By having been given the chance to prove themselves in war, they acted as a battering ram to demolish the barrier of segregation. The authors seem to present the arrangement as a failure as far as the battle for integration was concerned; rather, the Tuskegee Experience provided unmistakable proof that black pilots could perform admirably, and effectively paved the way for future desegregation.
Depth of research: 5 stars. Quality of editing: 3 stars........2001-10-18
You have to appreciate the amount of effort that went into assembling this book. Even the casually interested reader will finish "Black Knights" with a greater appreciation for the young men who completed the Tuskeegee Experience and went on to serve their country in WWII and beyond. Archival detail is impressive, down to an appendix that offers a roster of all Tuskeegee graduates. Can a future reprint offer the service history of each individual as well?
The book itself presents exhaustive research into the the origins of the program, testimony for and against its development, and records of Tuskeegee-trained airmen in combat and in the post-war USAF. But two-thirds of the way into the book, once the title material is exhausted, it begins a survey of pre-WWII black aviation pioneers. This material is also well-researched, but a bit awkward in its sequence and given the title. Should this have been published as two separate books?
Voluminous research presented the authors with a great challenge: how could all the information be made readable? The authors often succeeded at this task. Note the story of the 99th squadron's first air-to-air kill, and how that is woven back into the discussion of the Army Air Corps' resistance to establishing the squadron in the first place.
This is a good read, if not always compelling. Youth in search of heros need to look beyond the sports and recording industries to discover the Tuskeegee Airmen. Excerpts from this book may provide that introduction.
Good job, could have been better.............2001-08-29
A mixed bag to me, this book was an ordinary book about an extraordinary subject, those brave black men whose more subtle enemy was the pervasive racism back home. When he authors stick to the stories told about the racial obstacles placed in the "Black Knights" paths in such AAF bases as Alabama, Michigan, and Indiana, a compelling story is told. The Army wanted and expected black fliers to fail, and they not only didn't fail, they were superb soldiers and pilots. But, when the book moves into their combat experiences, the pace of the book slows down, instead using a day-to-day litany of the various units, culled directly from daily unit reports. This section of the book could have used more personal reminiscences from the many old fliers interviewed for the book. It's just page after page of mundane, "flip through" stuff. And the book suffers from spotty editing(Thurgood Marshall never was Chief Justice; the famous and versatile German flak gun was the 88, not the 188, for example). For a better look at combat conditions in the Italian Theater in '44-'45, read Stephen Ambrose's new book "The Wild Blue", about the men who flew the B-24s. Feel the absolute admiration that young B-24 pilot(and future Presidental candidate) George McGovern felt towards the Tuskegee Airmen, who got his crew home safe and sound every time. The excellent last chapter is curiously a history of early black aviation. I would have opened the book with it, rather than closed. The best chapter to me was about the 1945 Freeman Field Mutiny, when over 100 officers risked court martial because they were denied entry to the segregated base Officer's Club; early civil disobedience. The Army, faced with an uncertain outcome to the Japan Theater, backed down eventually. The hero of the book? Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr, a superb officer and a great leader.
Book Description
In 1941, Tuskegee, Alabama, was selected as the site of an important new development in military training. For the first time, black Americans were to be allowed to serve their country as members of the United States Army Air Corps. During its five-year history, Tuskegee Army Air Field was home to almost 1,000 African-American pilots. More than 10,000 black men and women served as their vital support personnel. Together, they filled the ranks of the 99th Fighter
Squadron, the 332nd Fighter Group, and the 477th
Bombardment Group. Their remarkable achievements at home and overseas destroyed stereotypes and helped to bring about the eventual integration of the United States military. Under the harsh restrictions of segregation, the African-Americans both trained and served together, and in this forced isolation, developed unbreakable bonds .
Customer Reviews:
pictural history, not a book.......2004-01-12
Maybe I didn't read the reviews close enough, but I was very disappointed in this book. Having read a few other WWII (auto)biographies, and having seen The Tuskeegee Airmen movie, I was very interested in learning more about this remarkable group. The "book" is mainly just a collection of photographs. It is more like walking through a museum exhibit. If that is the type of thing you are looking for, than this might be even rated at 4 or 5 stars, but I only gave it 3 because it doesn't let you get to really know these men as individuals, or feel a part of their struggle and inner strength and pride at their accomplishments.
Struggle for Acceptance.......2002-06-29
Young Black men prior to WWII only dreamed of flying for the U.S. Military. Many of them sneaked off to France to enter flight school. But when President Roosevelt ordered the formation of the 99th Fighter Squad, the Black men started their flight training at the Tuskeegee Institute of Alabama, an all-Black school founded by Booker T. Washington, a former slave himself. The first experiment consisted of 13 students of which only 5 finished the schooling. Classes followed, and finally, orders were for the Black pilots to go to North Africa to fly P-40 Warhawks. Their mission was to protect the large American bombers. The Black pilots showed their knowledge and their patriotism in spite of the fact the officer's clubs were still segregated. The only place they were completely equal was in a prisoner of war camp. However, while acceptance of Blacks as pilots was starting to happen in the war, back home in America, the integration issue was just heating up and about to explode. This book is an excellent glance into the history of Black American Military pilots.
This book is wicked good reading........2000-10-11
Like so many other people did, I watched the movie on HBO about the Tuskegee Airmen and I really enjoyed it. Because of the movie I went out and bought and read everything that I could about the Tuskegee Airmen. I have read at least a half dozen books on the subject so far and have far and away enjoyed this book more than any others. The authors have done a magnificent job of researching the subject. Their story flows seamlessly from their introduction through each obviously carefully written photograph and photographic caption. I loved it. I encourage every American to read this book, it's uplifting and educational at the same time. Well done to the authors for writing this book and well done to the men and women that made it happen.
MY HEROES.......2000-09-22
I need to start out by saying that I am a young black man and as such, this book had a great deal of meaning for me. In an era and in a society in which so many young black men are portrayed in such a negative light, it is good to see a book filled from beginning to end with black men and women of great accomplishment. All young black men and women should be intimately aware of the Tuskegee Airmen and the tremendous accomplishments that they have made to American society. I have never met a Tuskegee Airman, but I would like to. This is a very good book and I encourage all of my brothers and sisters to read this book. Blacks in America need heroes. These men and women are my heroes. I salute them and the authors for writing such a golden book.
Uplifting........2000-09-06
This book should be mandatory reading for all Americans concerned about contemporary race relations in the United States. Everyone could learn a lesson reading about the hurdles that the Tuskegee Airmen were forced to overcome in order to protect their own country. The authors have woven together a very moving story using fantastic photographs that help to make the reader feel as if actually living the experience. I highly recommend this book to all.
Book Description
Introduction to the lives and accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African-American pilot group of WWII.
Customer Reviews:
The heroic story of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.......2003-11-18
I have long thought that when President Harry S Truman gave the order to desegregate the United States military during the Korean War, behind the innate justice of the decision there was the practical lesson of the Tuskegee airmen, the African-American pilots of World War II who provided yet another lesson of the absurdity of racial inferiority. In this volume for the Journey to Freedom series of the African American Library, Sarah E. De Capua tells the story of how the Civilian Pilot Training Act of 1939 trained 20,000 college students each year to provide a pool of civilian pilots who could serve as military pilots during a war. Eventually all-black colleges became part of the program, one of which was the Tuskegee Institute founded by Booker T. Washington. In early 1941, months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the War Department created the all-black 99th Fighter Squadron. During World War II they would defend American bombers and destroy enemy targets, thereby earning their place in military aviation history.
De Capua puts this effort in the context of the prejudice these pilots faced before, during, and after their military service. More importantly, she provides the details on what these men went through to, both in terms of the training and their military service in Europe, as well as what was happening in the U.S. military to make it possible for them to serve. De Capua also establishes the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, citing not only Truman's Executive Order 9981, which led to the integration of the U.S. military, but the fact that one of the first five Tuskegee graduates Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. became the first black general in the U.S. Air Force in 1959, and that Colin Powell not only served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but also became Secretary of State. "The Tuskegee Airmen: African-American Pilots of World War II" is illustrated with historic photographs and is yet another solid volume in this fine series educated young readers about the achievements and contributions of African-American, most of who do not receive the credit they deserve in your standard American history textbook.
Customer Reviews:
The Tuskegee Airmen Story.......2005-04-01
I like the story because it brings up important historical events in world and in the US. The events are World War 2 and segragation. The story has a grandfather tell his grandson about when he was a Tuskegee Airmen and how his wife was a Tuskegee Airmen.The story was very good overall.
Book Description
A history of African American pilots with a focus on World War II.
Customer Reviews:
Social and military history of U.S. cira 1940s.......1998-12-13
This book is an excellent companion piece for use by middle and high schools teaching about social conditions and history of pre-post WWII. The introduction gives details about not only Af-Americans interested in flight, but also women, and is the first book I've seen that talks about the sister of the Wright brothers. Good overall details about the first Black fighter pilots who rose above all criticism to become heroes during the war in Europe and were the forerunners of the Civil Rights Movement by creating the first executive order to end racial segregation.
Average customer rating:
|
The Tuskegee Airmen: Black Heroes of World War II
Jacqueline L. Harris
Manufacturer: Dillon Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Teens
| Subjects
| Books
| Audiobooks
| Authors, A-Z
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Health, Mind & Body
| History & Historical Fiction
| Horror
| Literature & Fiction
| Manga
| Mysteries
| Reference
| Religion & Spirituality
| School & Sports
| Science & Technology
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Series
| Social Issues
Europe
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Military & Wars
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0382392159 |
Customer Reviews:
The Tuskegee Airmen.......2004-06-01
The Tuskegee Airmen
Jacqueline L. Harris
In the book, The Tuskegee Airmen, there were several times when I was touched by the actions of the characters. The book was about a group of black men, "minorities," who were discriminated by the white commanding officers in the Unites States Air Force. Throughout the book, it talks about the struggles of the black men who just wanted to fly and serve for their country. Nobody wants these black men to be pilots, but towards the end of the book, on one of their last missions they were recommended as great flyers by white men who once discriminated against them.
What I liked about the book was that the men never gave up when everybody that they met would put them down, even their black commanding pilot. They showed courage even when their own friends that they had met were killed in combat or even killed themselves. They also showed honor, being that they felt and knew that they were Americans trying to serve for their country, when everyone else was just looking at them like some kind of ignorant black people.
What I disliked about the book was all of the racism going on at the time. The black pilots were just like any other pilots, but treated different because of their skin color. Throughout the book, the few black pilots who were outnumbered by the many white pilots still held their heads up strong and continued with their dreams of fighting for their country, and that was another thing that I liked.
Average customer rating:
|
The Tuskegee Airmen (Cornerstones of Freedom. Second Series)
Linda George , and
Charles George
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
People of Color
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Military & Wars
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0516216023 |
Books:
- The Wizard of Menlo Park: How Thomas Alva Edison Invented the Modern World
- The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl
- The Yiddish Policemen's Union: A Novel
- There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children
- Thirteen Moons: A Novel
- Thunderhead
- Viking America: The Norse Crossings and Their Legacy
- Weight Watchers New 365 Day Menu Cookbook: Complete Meals for Every Day of the Year
- Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America: Climate Change, the Rise of China, and Global Terrorism
- Without Reservation: The Making of America's Most Powerful Indian Tribe and Foxwoods, the World's Largest Casino
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Enchanted April
- History: Fiction or Science
- Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth
- Atom: Journey Across the Subatomic Cosmos
- Decorating Is Fun!: How to be Your Own Decorator
- Health Security for All: Dreams of Universal Health Care in America
- Collected Plays, Volume Two
- Writing with Pictures: How to Write and Illustrate Children's Books
- Architectural Perspective Grids: An Easy Method of Three Dimensional Design and Perspective Construc
- Physical Stresses in Plants: Genes and Their Products for Tolerance
Black Knights: The Story of the Tuskegee Airmen
A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman
Tuskegee Airmen (AL) (Images of Aviation)
The Red Tails: World War Ii's Tuskegee Airmen (Cover-to-Cover Books)
Nightfighters: The story of the 332nd Fighter Group, Tuskegee Airmen
