Immerse In Harlem's Rattlers And The Great War: The Undaunted 369th Regiment And The African American Quest For Equality Constructed By Jeffrey T. Sammons File Digital Edition

on May,a French lieutenant warned Henry Johnson of theth to move back because of a possible enemy raid, Johnson reportedly replied: "I'm an American, and I never retreat.
" The story, even if apocryphal, captures the mythic status of the Harlem Rattlers, the AfricanAmerican combat unit that grew out of theth New York National Guard, who were said to have never lost a man to capture or a foot of ground that had been taken.
It also, in its insistence on American identity, points to a truth at the heart of this book more than fighting to make the world safe for democracy, the black men of theth fought to convince America to live up to its democratic promise.
It is this aspect of the storied regiment's history its place within the larger movement of African Americans for full citizenship in the face of virulent racism that "Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War" brings to the fore.


With sweeping vision, historical precision, and unparalleled research, this book will stand as the definitive study of theth, Though discussed in numerous histories and featured in popular culture most famously the film "Stormy Weather" and the novel "Jazz", theth has become more a matter of mythology than grounded, factually accurate history a situation that authors Jeffrey T.
Sammons and John H. Morrow, Jr. set out to right. Their book which eschews the regiment's famous nickname, the "Harlem Hellfighters," a name never embraced by the unit itself tells the full story of the selfproclaimed Harlem Rattlers.
Combining the "fighting focus" of military history with the insights of social commentary, "Harlem's Rattlers and the Great War" reveals the centrality of military service and war to the quest for equality as it details the origins, evolution, combat exploits, and postwar struggles of theth.


The authors take up the internal dynamics of the regiment as well as external pressures, paying particular attention to the environment created by the presence of both black and white officers in the unit.
They also explore the role of women in particular, the Women's Auxiliary of theth as partners in the struggle for full citizenship, From its beginnings in theth New York National Guard through its training in the explosive atmosphere in the South, its singular performance in the French Army during World War I, and the pathos of postwar adjustmentthis book reveals as never before the details of the Harlem Rattlers' experience, the poignant history of some of its heroes, its place in the story of both World War I and the African American campaign for equality and its full importance in our understanding of American history.
There are perhaps few WWI regiments more mythologized than the subject of this comprehensive volume, theth, also known as Harlems Rattlers, As Sammons and Morrow delve into the history of this “undaunted” group of black soldiers, they not only present landmark historical scholarship on WWI, race, and politics in America, but also do the important work

of bringing the voices of the men of theth themselves to the forefront of their own history.
The title, for instance, rejects the more widely known nickname “Harlem Hellfighters” in favor of the one preferred by the soldiers themselves, An especially compelling detail was an appendix with the full names of the regiments fallen, a gesture by the authors that demonstrates their sincere respect for the men of theth.


Ultimately, Sammons and Morrow are concerned with the idea of military service as a path to freedom and equality for blacks in the United States, With engaging presentation and thorough research, the authors delve into thisth century struggle complete with its acts of heroism, bitter political conflicts, and the frustrations of bureaucracy and draw from a fascinating array of official documents, letters, personal accounts, and other interesting sources.
The result is both a vivid, personal portrayal of the bravery and determination of theth on the battlefield and the struggle they faced as black veterans upon return in a rapidly changing America.


Bolstered by both unparalleled historical scholarship on the regiment and a commitment to the honoring of its memory, Harlems Rattlers is the definitive guide to theth, a book for both serious historians and any reader who appreciates the human capacity for courage in the face of war and adversity.

I consider myself fairly well read on the subject of the First World War, but I did not know anything about the facts covered by this book.
I enjoy finding books that bring me information completely new to me,

This book tells the story of the leading Black unit in the American Army on the western front, all the main people involved, and is an in depth study of race relations.
It is a huge book jammed with information and reads more like a PhD dissertation than a book for popular consumption, This is both it's greatest strength and also, ironically, it's greatest weakness, This is an incredibly well researched book and the scholarship impressive, This is a book to be studied rather than read,

That said, read this book, Drink in the information. The story of the unit's heroics in the war is just a tiny reason to visit the past through this book, The way it brings into focus the cruel, blatant, yet casual racism that was once the norm in this country is where the real power of this book lies.
Racism is still much with us only its voice is muted and is given continued life through whispers and code words, This book shows what our nation was like when Whites did not feel the need to mask their racism and it is an ugly picture,
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