"African Americans have long used the military for gaining legitimacy and the ultimate path to citizenship. Blacks in the Military and Beyond chronicles their tumultuous journey from slavery through the present, extending the history to significant factors in determining whether or not serving in the military has indeed advantaged Blacks.".

• Cover
• Blacks in the Military and Beyond
• Blacks in the Militaryand Beyond
• copyright page
• Dedication page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Part I
• YESTERDAY’S STRUGGLES
• Chapter 1
• Trials, Tribulations, and Tributes
  • Tribulations
  • Well Earned but Ungrateful Tributes
  • References
• Chapter 2
• Blacks’ Official Entry into Military Service
  • Getting Political with the Enemy
  • Hope Springs Eternal: Prelude to the Civil Rights Movement
  • Time for Change
  • Enough Is Enough! The Civil Rights Movement
  • Modern-Day Challenges
  • References
• Chapter 3
• Sisters in the Struggle
  • The Early Years
  • A Needs-based Sea of Change: Slowly Opening the Doors to Opportunity
  • Small Step toward Integration
  • Modern-Day Gains
  • References
• Chapter 4
• The Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  • Rationale for Existence
  • HBCUs and the Military
  • References
• Part II
• TODAY’S REALITIES
• Chapter 5
• The Black Middle Class and the Path to Economic Wealth
  • Black Wall Street and the Black Middle Class
  • Defending Our Country: African Americans and Military Service
  • The Military as a Pathway to Meaningful Employment
  • Contributors to the Black-White Wealth Gap
  • The Black-White Wealth Gap and Military Service
  • Military Service, Economic Wealth, and the Black Middle Class
  • References
• Chapter 6
• Is Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue at Odds with the Black Community?
  • Ourstorical Overview
  • The Military, Racial Integration, Gays, and Lesbians: Historical Encore?
  • At Odds with the Black Community: African American versus Gay Civil Rights
  • To Compare or Not Compare: Is the Gay Rights Movement the Same as Black Civil Rights?
  • A Changing Tide?
  • References
• Chapter 7
• Education and Affirmative Action
  • A Retrospective of the Modern Civil Rights Movement
  • The Early Years of Affirmative Action
  • References
  • Spark references
• Chapter 8
• The Business Case
  • Veterans Entrepreneurship
  • Demographics of Veteran Business Owners
  • Factors Impacting Veterans and Entrepreneurship
  • Veteranpreneurs: The Veteran Advantage
  • References
• Part III
• TOMORROW’S CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES
• Chapter 9
• The Changing Economics of Military Service
  • Drawdowns: The Impact on the African American Force
  • A Confluence of Challenges
  • Looking to the Past Instead of the Future
  • The Modern-Day Effects of Force Drawdowns
  • References
• Chapter 10
• Advancing Through the Ranks
  • From Pain Comes Inspiration
  • A Second Coming for HBCUs
  • Uplifting the Trajectory of the STEM Workforce: Engaging the Military Model
  • References
• Chapter 11
• The Allure of Military Service
  • Disturbing Trend: Military Interest in Decline
  • Is Race Relations Still a Problem in the Military?
  • References
  • References
• Appendix A
• Appendix B
• Index
• About the Authors