An Army Afire

“A detailed examination of the U.S. Army’s efforts to address “the problem of race” in the late 1960s and early ’70s . . . . [Bailey’s] in-depth reporting on the Army’s attempts to “assess and address Black soldiers’ complaints” sheds light on what was accomplished, as well as how far there is left to go. It’s a valuable study of the challenges to institutional reform.”—Publishers Weekly

“Bailey has done a great service by exploring the military side of the “racial crisis” of the 1960s and ’70s, a topic that has been underexplored by historians . . . . insightful.”—Randal Maurice Jelks, Los Angeles Review of Books

“Army Afire reveals the truth of the U.S. Army’s struggle with racial strife and fermenting black protest during the late 1960s . . . [by showing] just how engulfed the Army was by the flames of racial discord. . . . [A]n important contribution to the history of racism and reform within the U.S. military.”—Pacific Historical Review

“A brilliant, original, and compelling book that makes a distinctive contribution to our understanding of the U.S. military and American race relations.”—Journal of American History

“Bailey’s study provides important insights into the changing military and also makes a real contribution by demonstrating the ways that change played out in contexts outside the social movements of the period.”—Journal of Southern History

“Bailey’s account of the way the army responded to the growing crisis is original and informative.”—Eric Foner, London Review of Books

“An Army Afire will interest scholars who study institutional change, policy implementation, diversity ideologies and race. The book is clearly and engagingly written and is accessible to those not familiar with the US military and its acronyms.”—Ethnic and Racial Studies

“An Army Afire is a fine book that effectively shows how measures like the DRRI, as well as the decline of the Vietnam War and the receding influence of the Black Power movement, all contributed to the start of true integration within the Army by the mid-1970s.”–North Carolina Historical Review

“Beth Bailey has provided her readers with an exemplary analysis of the U.S. Army’s attempts to address the racial crisis that challenged its very capacity to effectively fight a major war. Clearly and engagingly written, An Army Afire should find a readership well beyond military historians and scholars of the Vietnam War. The general reader with an interest in the history of the Army in the past century will also benefit greatly from reading Bailey’s compelling book.”—On Point: The Journal of Army History

“An essential addition to the historiography of the Vietnam War era and the US Army, as it relates the racial conflict in the US to the experiences of American soldiers worldwide. Bailey expands the field of military history and is taking the discipline to exciting new places. This book is a must read for all who are interested in the history of race relations in the US, and should be required reading for all military historians . . . . Highly recommended.”—CHOICE