The First Black U.S. Navy Officers (Aired on January 3, 2021)

RadioRotary interviews author and journalist Dan Goldberg about his book The Golden 13: How Black Men Won the Right to Wear Navy Gold.  Mr. Goldberg, an award-winning writer for Politico, spent eight years researching the story of the first Black officers in the U.S. Navy, working to restore these men to their rightful place in history. World War II was nearing its end in January 1944. The Navy until then had assigned all Black sailors to the Mess Corps, but it was past time for a change. Sixteen Black sailors were chosen to take secret and intense training to become officers. Although all sixteen passed their finals, the U.S. Navy knew that of ordinary officers-in-training, only 75% passed, so they whittled the final list down to thirteen. All thirteen served with distinction in the last days of World War II.  Listen to their story as told by the author of this readable and important book.

Learn more:
The Golden 13 by Dan Goldberg: https://smile.amazon.com/Golden-Thirteen-Black-Right-Wear/dp/080702158X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Golden+13&qid=1610137918&s=books&sr=1-1
Dan Goldberg: https://smile.amazon.com/Dan-Goldberg/e/B084B27MD3?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000
Golden Thirteen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Thirteen
African-American Experience in the U.S. Navy: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/diversity/african-americans.html

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January 9, 2021 · Posted in History