Standing up against hate: How black women in the army helped change the course of WWII by Mary Cronk Farrell

[Originally published in May 2019]

World War II history is a popular topic in my library for fourth grade and up, but I feel really strongly that if kids are old enough to read about war they're old enough to read about everything. Not necessarily graphic details of atrocities, but definitely the full context of the war; that not everything is black and white, there are not "good guys" versus "bad guys". One of the major points that often gets overlooked in WWII history for kids is the treatment of women and minorities by the army and as more nuanced and honest depictions of the war are being published I've been slowly diversifying my collection in this area.

Farrell has written several titles that tell those overlooked stories from American history, Pure Grit and Fannie never flinched. Her latest title would be a great choice to read alongside Steve Sheinkin's Port Chicago 50, about the treatment of black men in the military, since Standing up against hate depicts the prejudice and even violence that black women faced in the military.

This is the story of Charity Adams, the commander of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only black WAAC battalion to be sent overseas. Farrell talks honestly about the experiences of black women in the military; their struggles to not be assigned as cooks and cleaners and to do the work they had been trained for and which they hoped would improve their lives after the war. They walked a narrow line between standing up for themselves and the possibility that going against the military structure would see them jailed or even executed. In addition, they had to deal with the prejudice, segregation, and open violence of the towns they were stationed in as well as their fellow soldiers.

Despite many obstacles, Adams and her troops succeeded in fulfilling their vital assignments to keep the mail moving and morale up; they experienced a whole new world in England, seeing a place where they were welcomed freely into homes and businesses without encountering the brutal prejudice and segregation of America, and met many obstacles with dignity and determination.

Farrell carefully documents the stories of these brave women with original documents and quotes and her powerful prose. She follows up the story with an author's note talking about how the world opened up for many white women after World War II - but not for black women. She discusses the long-range effect of the black women in the army and their struggle for dignity and equality and the role of black women in the military today. A glossary, notes, bibliography, credits, and index are also included.

Verdict: A powerful and important work, I strongly urge librarians to buy this and include it in their middle grade and/or teen nonfiction sections, recommending it to readers who are interested in World War II so they get a full and complete picture. As young readers are starting to read more critically, it's vital that they see a more nuanced picture of the world events and history and this book is an excellent addition to WWII history sections. Strongly recommended.

Revisited: Still a powerful and strongly recommended addition to any middle grade or young adult section on WWII history.

ISBN: 9781419731600; Published January 2019 by Harry N. Abrams; ARC provided by publisher; Purchased for the library