Benjamin O. Davis Jr., American : An Autobiography
by DAVIS BO
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Book Summary Information
Author: DAVIS BOEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2000-02-15
ISBN: 1560983957
Number of pages: 480
Publisher: Smithsonian
Book Reviews of Benjamin O. Davis Jr., American : An Autobiography
Book Review: The Battle for Acceptance
Summary: 4 Stars
??Benjamin O. Davis Jr., American: An Autobiography?? is the memoir of a distinguished Air Force officer who happened to be African-American. While the title implies race-blindness, that is just wishful thinking on behalf of General Davis. Race defined his life and career.
General Davis comes from a family well established in Washington, D.C. black society. His father Benjamin Davis Sr. enlisted in the U.S. Army, later earning a commission. This was in an America where strict segregation prevailed and black people were regarded in some circles as talking apes. The U.S. Army was no different. Black soldiers were in segregated units lead by white officers and a very few black officers.
Nonetheless, Benjamin Sr. persevered ultimately reaching the rank of Brigadier General after 42 years of service. In doing this he became the first African American to become a General officer in the history of the United States.
Benjamin Jr. followed in his father??s footsteps. However he pursued his commission through the United States Military Academy located at West Point, New York. His appointment was from Congressman Oscar DePriest of Chicago.
West Point did not welcome Mr. Davis. While he was eventually a member of the Class of 1936, it is no credit to West Point. He was the first black graduate in forty years. Shortly after his arrival, he was ??silenced??.
The silent treatment is used by the Corps of Cadets to reject someone who they feel should not be at the Academy. Historically it is used for cadets with honor violations. In Mr. Davis??s case, it was because of his race. When a cadet is silenced, no one speaks to you except in the line of duty. But the cadet is not ignored; he is still the object of cruel, petty practical jokes.
The process was so traumatizing, Mr. Davis could still remember exactly which of his classmates had spoken to him socially before they were ordered not to. He never returned to West Point for fifty years. He had nothing socially to do with his classmates until he had reached the rank of Colonel and the military services desegregated.
Interestingly enough, he began to receive apologies from his classmates shortly after his graduation.
Ultimately, he trained as an Army pilot. During WWII, he led the fabled Tuskegee airman. He and his men successfully navigated the obstacles placed in the path by elements of the US military that did not want black pilots. He credits this to a strict adherence to military regulations, tight discipline and focusing on the mission. He knew the military system was determined to find fault with them and the first tool they would use would be the ??book?? and their performance as a unit.
If you want to know about the remainder of his career, read the book. ?
One thing I found annoying about his narrative especially later in his career is he talks a lot about his friends. The mundane social life of he and Agatha drags the narrative down. But even this point gives insight to his career. He was a black man operating in a white world that did not want him.
Visits from his future wife Agatha sustained him during his tenure at West Point. They were excluded from Army post social life. Even among his fellow black pilots, as the commanding officer, he could not socialize with his juniors.
Only after the war, could he and wife have friends and a real social life. Only when society began to accept him on his merits did he begin to feel accepted as a man and an American.
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