Armed Forces and Social Change: New Book Examines the Struggle for Racial & Gender Equality

The Armed Forces and American Social Change: An Unwritten Truce is a powerful depiction of black Americans’ struggle for equality told through the lens of uniformed military service. Troy Mosley uses superb storytelling, personal vignettes, and historical examples to show how millions of Americans have lifted themselves from oppression through opportunities gleaned from military service. Collectively, these efforts exerted positive outward pressure on American society, which by and large has resisted social change

One unique aspect of combat is that rarely are Americans more equal than when thrust into harm’s way. It has been said there are no atheists in combat; similarly, racism, sexism, and homophobia quickly go by the wayside when under enemy fire. Yet in the 19th century and well into the 21st, America’s military policies regarding the use of manpower could best be described as an awkward attempt to balance the requirement to win the nation’s wars while supporting a socio-political caste system. The Armed Forces and American Social Change: An Unwritten Truce illuminates the historical significance of these struggles that confound our society today.