Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad

About This Event

More than one million Black soldiers served in World War II, serving in segregated units while waging a dual battle against inequality in the very country for which they were laying down their lives. The stories of these Black veterans have long been ignored, cast aside in favor of the myth of the “Good War” fought by the “Greatest Generation.” And yet without their sacrifices, the United States could not have won the war. In his new book Half American, Matthew Delmont tells the stories of Black military heroes and civil rights icons that fought for a Double Victory: against facism abroad and against racism at home. An essential and meticulously researched retelling of the war that honors the men and women who dared to fight not just for democracy abroad, but for their dreams of a freer and more equal America.

Biography:

Matthew Delmont is the Sherman Fairchild Distinguished Professor of History at Dartmouth College. A Guggenheim Fellow and expert on African American history and the history of civil rights, he is the author of five books: Half American, Black Quotidian, Why Busing Failed, Making Roots, and The Nicest Kids in Town. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, NPR, and several academic journals. Originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Delmont earned his BA from Harvard University and his MA and PhD from Brown University. For more information on Matthew Delmont, please visit matthewdelmont.com or www.prhspeakers.com.

Note: Lectures will have live captioning

This lecture is part of the History Forum series. Visit The History Forum landing page for more information.