For Black History Month, Liam McCarthy launches his new book The Life of African American GIs in Britain in WWII: A War Within A War.
When African American GIs in the segregated US military came to Britain they faced the same racism, rough military justice and violence from white American GIs that they suffered in the States. What made their British posting so different was that, away from their bases, African American soldiers were shocked to find there was no segregation.
Using material from American military archives, personnel records, court martial papers and a trove of a family archives, Liam McCarthy’s new book highlights the lives of some of the African Americans who served in Britain. It follows a typical Quartermaster Truck Company as it criss-crossed the country encountering both American racial violence and British affection.
As part of Black History Month, Liam will introduce the book and its key themes. This is a public event, open to all.