by Jim Vandergriff
Knox College
Galesburg, IL

I recommend this book especially to public school teachers, but also to all Americans. The reason for this sweeping recommendation is that the book makes readily accessible important information about the nature of the service of African-Americans in the military. I would suggest, for instance, posting the list of names of Black Medal of Honor recipients on classroom walls.

The book covers a very short time -- 28 years . I wish it were more inclusive. In the final chapter, Schubert mentions current efforts to correct the records for WWI and II in regard to Black valor. He says nothing about Viet Nam where, as we know, about one in four among American soldiers was Black, and about Korea he says only this: "With black veterans of the Korean War successfully pressing the Army to reconsider the combat history of the much maligned Twenty-fourth infantry Regiment, the attempt to reevaluate black contributions and ensure adequate recognition for heroes of past wars continues." (p. 172) Perhaps more information will be forthcoming.

Schubert covers this 28 years quite well, I think, providing us with a history of the Medal itself and a good clear look at the struggle of African-Americans to achieve both respect as soldiers and equality as human beings in the military.

Of course, his topic is one bound to generate discomfort in some arenas. These are the "Buffalo soldiers," after all, and many of the medals were awarded for actions during the Indian Wars. I suppose, too, the 16 awarded to Black soldiers in the Civil War might offend some. It’s a difficult issue to reconcile, but one Schubert addresses a little in the chapter entitled "Recognition."

Overall, it is an interesting, easy to read book. The structure is quite good for someone like me -- i. e., lacking in prior information about the topic. Schubert begins with a history of the Medal of Honor itself, then follows with a chapter on the efforts of Black soldiers to be treated as professionals. A series of chapters focusing on various campaign theaters comes next -- The Seminole Wars, The Apache Wars, Cuba. The book ends with the chapter on "Recognition," which chronicles the on-going efforts of various individuals and organizations to get Black soldiers the recognition they deserve. The book is also thoroughly documented, so anyone interested in wider reading on the subject will find the references at hand.

We live in an era when our ability to deal with our diversity has never been more important. This book is a step in that direction because it provides us with information that helps us more fairly and honestly understand our fellow human beings. The role of Black soldiers in the American military is still not an exhaustively studied subject. I, for instance, was surprised last year to learn that the only (as far as we currently know) female Buffalo solder was a Missouri native. I say post that list of Black Medal of Honor winners in public places, and include with it a list of all the others of various races and ethnicities. So, I recommend this book for public and school libraries, for teachers struggling with "representation" issues in their curricula, for people who still harbor doubts about racial equality issues, for people who simply want to know. It’s a good, informative book.