The First Black Marines: An Oral History tells the extraordinary stories of the men who made history as the first African Americans to serve in the US Marine Corps. Based on extensive oral history interviews with a group of veterans conducted by the authors, this new title in OUP's Graphic History Series documents the experiences of these men as they underwent training at the segregated Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina, during the 1940s
and served in the Pacific theater of World War II. Narrated in the authentic voices of the Marines and featuring powerful imagery, this book provides a personal and moving account of the challenges they faced
and overcame as pioneers in the US military during the Jim Crow era of widespread racial segregation and discrimination. The graphic history is accompanied by a highly accessible introduction to an inquiry-based approach to historical research and the methodology of oral history that empowers students to develop and conduct their own research projects in their communities. In addition, the book includes a brief overview of the historical context in which the Marines'
stories unfold as well as a carefully chosen set of primary documents.
Industry Reviews
"Detailed, well-written, and highly accurate, The First Black Marines offers a model for how we should teach oral history in the twenty-first century."--Reginald K. Ellis, Florida A&M University
"The First Black Marines tackles difficult yet inspiring history in an incredibly accessible way. Kudos to the authors for allowing us to hear this history from the brave men who lived it, while teaching us about historiography along the way. Sure to be enjoyed by students and casual readers alike!"--Melissa Ziobro, Monmouth University
"This graphic history walks students step-by-step through the field of history and what it means to be a historian. Stunning visuals recreate life at Montford Point for the first African American Marines since the American Revolution. The First Black Marines sheds light on their experiences as men, Marines, and African Americans fighting for the double victory in the Jim Crow South and in the Pacific theater of World War II. These men faced
discrimination, hardship, and injustice with poise and honor, and their stories, interpreted through the eyes of historians Trevor Getz, Robert Willis, and Gunnery Sergeant Joseph H. Geeter III, provide insight into how
the battle for civil rights was fought on a multitude of fronts while providing the reader with lessons that are still applicable to the struggles our country faces today."--Toni Nicholas, Red Rocks Community College
