First published 2012
The Second World War opens new doors for African Americans, creating jobs in defense plants and chances to serve their country. Civil rights activists seize these opportunities to push for equality at home while fighting fascism abroad. But progress comes with a price. For every victory, opponents of integration devise stronger methods to preserve segregation. The war that discredits racist regimes overseas simultaneously limits the strategies available to black organizers at home. Activists must choose their battles carefully as they face both unprecedented chances and unexpected obstacles. The conflict that seems destined to advance civil rights also creates new barriers to overcome. In this struggle, the fog of war obscures not just military objectives but the path to freedom itself.
Genres: civil-war, historical-fiction, 20th-century, african-american, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Africa, United States
Period: World War II
256 pages · Hardcover · Oxford University Press
Content warnings: racism, violence