The Golden Thirteen

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The story of the 13 courageous black men who integrated the officer corps of the US Navy during World War II, leading desegregation efforts across America and anticipating the civil rights movement. Until 1942, black men in the Navy could hold jobs only as cleaners and cooks. The Navy decided to select the first black men to undergo officer training in 1944, after pressure from ordinary citizens and civil rights leaders. Through oral histories and original interviews with surviving family members, Dan Goldberg brings 13 forgotten heroes into the spotlight. He reveals the opposition these men faced—the racist pseudo-science, the regular condescension, the repeated epithets, the verbal abuse, and even violence. Despite these immense challenges, the Golden Thirteen persisted, understanding the opportunities for black Americans if they succeeded, and the consequences if they failed.