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Glory in Their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took On the Army during World War II (Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History) Kindle Edition

by Sandra M Bolzenius (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
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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.
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  1. Part of series
    Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History
  2. Print length
    258 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    University of Illinois Press
  5. Publication date
    April 17, 2018
  6. File size
    6.9 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History
Women, Gender, and Sexuality in American History
Bundle price: Kindle price
$44.89
Bundle price: Kindle price
$74.83
Bundle price: Kindle price
$154.66
Bundle price: Kindle price
$448.98
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An enlightening read, Glory in Their Spirit examines a little-known history of the war." --World War II Magazine

"Meticulously researched and well-written. . . . This title will be a valuable resource for those interested in WW II government, African American and minority history, and women's studies. Recommended." --Choice

"This work contributes new voices to the long civil rights movement narrative, and Black servicewomen are added to the ranks of activists who strove to eliminate discrimination in the United States. . . . Bolzenius's monograph provides significant insight." --H-War

"Glory in their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took on the Army During World War II tells a significant story. It brings to light and life a forgotten episode in Massachusetts history, reminding us that the 'Greatest Generation' was by no means above reproach, perhaps condemnation, and by showing the pervasive prejudice of the mid-twentieth-century United States, illustrates how far we have come toward providing equal access." --Historical Journal of Massachusetts

"Black men and Black women integrated the military as officers and as enlisted in different ways. This is the important and untold story of Black enlisted women and the unexpected way their integration occurred."--Judith Hicks Stiehm, editor of It's Our Military, Too: Women and the U.S. Military

"Bolzenius is to be congratulated for her unrelenting attention to detail while also addressing the historical context of why four black women felt duty-bound to take on the army during World War II. Glory in Their Spirit encompasses an impressive array of legal history, black history, and social history." --The Journal of American 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

"Glory in Their Spirit is a compelling, deeply researched book." --Black Perspectives

"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

About the Author

Sandra M. Bolzenius is a former instructor at The Ohio State University and served as a transportation specialist in the United States Army.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07CC4BTQ1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of Illinois Press; Illustrated edition (April 17, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 17, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

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4.5 out of 5 stars
33 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Oletha Wade-Matthews
    5.0 out of 5 stars We can get through anything
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Our ancestors got through it we can too!
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  • SeriousReader1
    5.0 out of 5 stars Glory in being strong women
    Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a story that has been too long overdue in the telling. The African American women of the U.S. Army were the hidden heroines of the war effort. Brava for this book, for the recognition at last.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Arlena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2018
    Title: Glory in Their Spirit
    Author: Sandra M. Bolzenius
    Publisher: University of Illinois Press
    Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
    Rating: Five
    Review:

    "Glory in Their Spirit" How Four Black Women Took On the Army[WAC] during World War II by Sandra M Bolzenius

    My Thoughts...

    I found this read "Glory in Their Spirit: How Four Black Women Took On the Army during World War II a interesting read of 'black service women during WWII here in America. I also found the prayer very befitting the read especially after reading of this entire read. I will say that this book still made me shake my head at what one had to go through to wear a uniform...still having to give up their seats with other quotes this author presented. All in all Black people in uniform 'wanted nothing more than to be treated as equal by all people. I read this novel thinking even though in the 1940's segregation and discrimination was high with African American women definitely not being equal to well who? I found myself after reading this wondering just how hard it was for these four African American women to be in the service of the 'army [WAC] but not good enough but only to be able to clean after others [working as orderlies] while the white group had no problem.' Why not better jobs since it seemed like these 'four women were good enough to do their part and be able to get in the army[WAC] in the first place?'

    Well, all is left for me to say...Look At Us Now! I am not sure I liked this novel at first however after much thought I see that this author did wonderful job writing this story and hopefully it will help one understand what African American women in uniform serving in this US of America Army [WAC] had to go through...so 'GLORY IN THEIR SPIRIT.' Even though in the end we find 'Green, Morrison, Murphy and Young had to chose court-martial over a return to menial duties' which 'helped steer one of Americana's most powerful institutions onto a new road toward progress and justice.' Amen to that!

    Yes, I am a African American woman and it cuts in my spirit to what these four woman had to endure in order to serve our country. I find this is a interesting read only if you are interested in what have gone on in the past to what is now going on in the present. Things have changed..thank God for that!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Mary V.
    3.0 out of 5 stars Women heros
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This version of these amazing women is a bit too date detailed! I think a story would flow better for me
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  • Elle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019
    This book (and/or this story) should at least be required reading in any course about the history of civil rights or women's rights. At best it should be required reading in all high schools as part of 20th Century American History. Certainly any study of the civil rights movement and/or the women's movement should highlight this episode, which is an all-but-forgotten chapter in the history of both. How many people today know anything about the Fort Devens' WAC strike and the court martial of these four courageous women? It was a big story in the African American press at the time, but was almost wholly forgotten after the fact. It's disgraceful that both the civil rights movement and the women's movement pushed black women to the background and asked them to wait for their rights, for "the good of" the larger group. The incidents described in this book lent impetus and strength to both movements. All students should read this book, and the idea that even one woman of color might miss this book is enough to make me cry.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • JReppy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful story of black women fighting racial discrimination in the military.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2018
    Anyone interested in the civil rights movement or military history should read this book. If you are of a certain age, you will know that the US military during WWII was segregated and discriminatory. However, most of what we know likely focuses on discrimination towards black male soldiers. It was interesting to learn more about the experiences of black WACS. The Fort Devens strike was something I knew nothing about. The story of the four women who underwent courts martial to stand up for themselves and their colleagues is interesting and powerful. These women faced a double bind — underestimated, dismissed, and mistreated because they were black and because they were women. Even the people trying to help them tended to treat them as lesser beings due to both race and gender. I was surprised to learn how popular and prominent the Fort Devens strike was when it occurred and dismayed that it faded away and was largely forgotten so soon afterwards.

    Received a copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • June DeLeo
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is an amazing story about black women in the military in WW2
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2018
    This is an amazing story about black women in the military in WW2. I had read about women in the military (WACs) and the famed Tuskegee Airmen, but not about this. It can be difficult to grasp the hardships that women and blacks have faced throughout U.S. history. But the obstacles for those who were both female and black were even taller. Pillars of the civil rights movement like Mary McCloud Bethune and Thurgood Marshall were involved in the case. You will be touched by the story of these four young black women, Mary Green, Anna Morrison, Johnnie Murphy, and Alice Young. Deeply researched and well written. Personal stories within a historical context. I highly recommend!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • YM
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2019
    I am currently reading this incredibly well-written book about black women in the army during WW II who endured racism AND sexism in ways I can only imagine. The author, Sandra M. Bolzenius, is a bit redundant, but detailed and accurate none the less. I am, in part, infuriated by what these women had to go through just to receive the rights and benefits that were promised to them when they signed up to serve their country. Even more infuriating were the lies the military used to keep black women "in their place". But I am also proud as I read how smart, strategic and selfless these women were in the fight for equality. This is the underrated story of the African American women who fought racism and sexism deeply embedded within the army. I thank God for them. Because of them, I can.
    2 people found this helpful
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