Brea king the color barrier: the U.S. Naval Academy's first Black midshipmen and the struggle for racial equality

Winner of the 2006 Richard W. Leopold Prize from the Organization of American Historians Winner of the 2006 George Pendleton Prize from the Society for History in the Federal Government Only five black men were admitted to the United States Naval Academy between Reconstruction and the beginning of World War II. None graduated, and all were deeply scarred by intense racial discrimination, ranging from brutal hazing incidents to the institutionalized racist policies of the Academy itself. Breaking the Color Barrier examines the black community's efforts to integrate the Naval Academy, as well as the experiences that black midshipmen encountered at Annapolis. Historian Robert J. Schneller analyzes how the Academy responded to demands for integration from black and white civilians, civil rights activists, and politicians, as well as what life at the Academy was like for black midshipmen and the encounters they had with their white classmates. In 1949, Midshipman Wesley Brown achieved what seemed to be the impossible: he became the first black graduate of the Academy. Armed with intelligence, social grace, athleticism, self-discipline, and an immutable pluck, as well as critical support from friends and family, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, and the Executive Department, Brown was able to confront and ultimately shatter the Academy’s tradition of systematic racial discrimination. Based on the Navy’s documentary records and on personal interviews with scores of midshipmen and naval officers, Breaking the Color Barrier sheds light on the Academy’s first step in transforming itself from a racist institution to one that today ranks equal opportunity among its fundamental tenets.

between Reconstruction And The Beginning Of World War Ii, Only Five Black Men Were Admitted To The United States Naval Academy. None Graduated, And All Were Deeply Scarred By Intense Racial Discrimination, Ranging From Brutal Hazing Incidents To The Institutionalized Racist Policies Of The Academy Itself.

Breaking The Color Barrier Examines The Black Community S Efforts To Integrate The Naval Academy, As Well As The Experiences That Black Midshipmen Encountered At Annapolis. Historian Robert J. Schneller Analyzes How The Academy Responded To Demands For Integration From Black And White Civilians, Civil Rights Activists, And Politicians, As Well As What Life At The Academy Was Like For Black Midshipmen And The Encounters They Had With Their White Classmates. Often Adversarial And Violent, Supportive Relationships Between Black And White Midshipmen Did Exist At The Academy, Particularly In The Post-world War Ii Era.

In 1949, Midshipman Wesley Brown Achieved What Seemed To Be The Impossible: He Became The First Black Graduate Of The Academy. Armed With Intelligence, Social Grace, Athleticism, Self-discipline, And An Immutable Pluck, As Well As Critical Support From Friends And Family, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, And The Executive Department, Brown Was Able To Confront And Ultimately Shatter The Academy S Tradition Of Systematic Racial Discrimination.

Based On The Navy S Documentary Records And On Personal Interviews With Scores Of Midshipmen And Naval Officers, Breaking The Color Barrier Sheds Light On The Academy S First Step In Transforming Itself From A Racist Institution To One That Today Ranks Equal Opportunity Among Its Fundamental Tenets.

shipmate Magazine

traces The Long And Bitter Struggle To Integrate The U.s. Naval Academy. . . An Engrossing Account Of How An American Institution Struggled To Deal With Its Racist Past And Ultimately Triumphed In The Fight To Become Integrated.

Between Reconstruction and the beginning of World War II, only five black men were admitted to the United States Naval Academy. None graduated, and all were deeply scarred by intense racial discrimination, ranging from brutal hazing incidents to the institutionalized racist policies of the Academy itself.

Breaking the Color Barrier examines the black community’s efforts to integrate the Naval Academy, as well as the experiences that black midshipmen encountered at Annapolis. Historian Robert J. Schneller analyzes how the Academy responded to demands for integration from black and white civilians, civil rights activists, and politicians, as well as what life at the Academy was like for black midshipmen and the encounters they had with their white classmates. Often adversarial and violent, supportive relationships between black and white midshipmen did exist at the Academy, particularly in the post-World War II era.

In 1949, Midshipman Wesley Brown achieved what seemed to be the impossible: he became the first black graduate of the Academy. Armed with intelligence, social grace, athleticism, self-discipline, and an immutable pluck, as well as critical support from friends and family, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, and the Executive Department, Brown was able to confront and ultimately shatter the Academy’s tradition of systematic racial discrimination.

Based on the Navy’s documentary records and on personal interviews with scores of midshipmen and naval officers, Breaking the Color Barrier sheds light on the Academy’s first step in transforming itself from a racist institution to one that today ranks equal opportunity among its fundamental tenets.

Frontmatter Preface (page ix) Acknowledgments (page xi) PART I The Glorious Failure: Reconstruction and the Naval Academy, 1872-1876 1 "Not...Their Equals Socially" (page 3) 2 "Speechless Walls as Companions" (page 28) PART II Persona Non Grata: Jim Crow and the Naval Academy, 1877-1941 3 Segregation by Occupation (page 49) 4 "Railroaded Out of Navy" (page 81) 5 "They Shall Not Pass" (page 111) PART III Breaking the Color Barrier: World War II and the First Black Graduate, 1942-1949 6 Racial Policy "Revolution" (page 137) 7 The Greater Challenge (page 166) 8 Demerits by the Bucketful (page 197) 9 Success and Celebrity (page 235) Conclusion (page 254) Notes (page 259) Bibliography (page 305) Index (page 321) About the Author (page 331) "Breaking the Color Barrier examines the black community's efforts to integrate the Naval Academy, as well as the experiences that black midshipmen encountered at Annapolis. Historian Robert J. Schneller, Jr., analyzes how the Academy responded to demands for integration from black and white civilians, civil rights activists, and politicians, as well as what life at the Academy was like for black midshipmen and the encounters they had with their white classmates."--BOOK JACKET.