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Title details for Glory in Their Spirit by Sandra M Bolzenius - Available

Glory in Their Spirit

by Sandra M Bolzenius
ebook
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Before Rosa Parks and the March on Washington, four African American women risked their careers and freedom to defy the United States Army over segregation. Women Army Corps (WAC) privates Mary Green, Anna Morrison, Johnnie Murphy, and Alice Young enlisted to serve their country, improve their lives, and claim the privileges of citizenship long denied them. Promised a chance at training and skilled positions, they saw white WACs assigned to those better jobs and found themselves relegated to work as orderlies. In 1945, their strike alongside fifty other WACs captured the nation's attention and ignited passionate debates on racism, women in the military, and patriotism. Glory in Their Spirit presents the powerful story of their persistence and the public uproar that ensued. Newspapers chose sides. Civil rights activists coalesced to wield a new power. The military, meanwhile, found itself increasingly unable to justify its policies. In the end, Green, Morrison, Murphy, and Young chose court-martial over a return to menial duties. But their courage pushed the segregated military to the breaking point "and helped steer one of American's most powerful institutions onto a new road toward progress and justice.| Title Copyright Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments A Note on Archival Sources Historical Figures Abbreviations and Definitions Timeline Introduction Chapter 1. The Army Diversifies: Fort Des Moines Chapter 2. Fort Devens Chapter 3. The Strike Chapter 4. Trial and Verdict Chapter 5. The Civilian Reaction Chapter 6. Military Protocol Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index |"Glory in Their Spirit is an absolute pleasure to read and does justice to the bravery of four all but forgotten women who took on the Army in WWII." —Journal of American Ethnic History
"Interesting, well-written, and accessible. Sandra Bolzenius unearths a treasure trove of rich, relevant primary source archival materials that highlights the lesser known experiences of black women in addition to speaking to the uniqueness of the military as a venue for the redress, and suppression, of rights."—Elizabeth Escobedo, author of From Coveralls to Zoot Suits: The Lives of Mexican American Women on the World War II Home Front



"This well-written account of little-known yet essential stories of valor and protest will fascinate readers interested in WWII, women's history, and heretofore untold stories of civil-rights trailblazers. Recommend Glory in Their Spirit to fans of Hidden Figures."—Booklist
|Sandra M. Bolzenius is a former instructor at The Ohio State University and served as a transportation specialist in the United States Army.

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  • English