Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965

"Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965" by Morris J. MacGregor is a historical exploration of how the United States Armed Forces evolved from a segregated institution to a racially integrated one between World War II and the mid-1960s. The book shines a light on the challenges, successes, and policy shifts within the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps as they grappled with racial inequality against the backdrop of the burgeoning civil rights movement. Opening with the pre-war experiences of Black service members and the strict segregation they faced, the book chronicles the push toward integration as it became intertwined with both civil rights ideals and wartime necessities, setting the stage for an in-depth administrative history of how the military navigated changing racial policies during a time of profound social change.