Standing Up Against Hate: How Black Women in the Army Helped Change the Course of WWII

Standing Up Against Hate tells the stories of the African American women who enlisted in the newly formed Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in World War II. They quickly discovered that they faced as many obstacles in the armed forces as they did in everyday life. However, they refused to back down. They interrupted careers and left family, friends, and loved ones to venture into unknown and sometimes dangerous territory. They survived racial prejudice and discrimination with dignity, succeeded in jobs women had never worked before, and made crucial contributions to the military war effort. The book centers around Charity Adams, who commanded the only black WAAC battalion sent overseas and became the highest ranking African American woman in the military by the end of the war. Along with Adams’s story are those of other black women who played a crucial role in integrating the armed forces. Their tales are both inspiring and heart-wrenching. The book includes a timeline, bibliography, and index.

Author Biography

Mary C. Farrell is an award-winning journalist and the author of Fannie Never Flinched and Pure Grit. She lives in Spokane, Washington.Major General Marcia M. Anderson’smilitary career spanned 36 years, and included many “firsts” including selection as the first African American female Major General in the Army, Army Reserve, or Active Army.