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

Book Description...

" 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:  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!