What do you think?
Rate this book
Women of Action
Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II
2014 Amelia Bloomer Top Ten List Double Victory tells the stories of African American women who did extraordinary things to help their country during World War II. In these pages young readers meet a range of remarkable war workers, political activists, military women, volunteers, and entertainers. Some, such as Mary McLeod Bethune and Lena Horne, were celebrated in their lifetimes and are well known today. But many others fought discrimination at home and abroad in order to contribute to the war effort yet were overlooked during those years and forgotten by later generations. Double Victory recovers the stories of these courageous women, such as Hazel Dixon Payne, the only woman to serve on the remote Alaska-Canadian Highway; Deverne Calloway, a Red Cross worker who led a protest at an army base in India; and Betty Murphy Phillips, the only black female overseas war correspondent.
Offering a new and diverse perspective on the war and including source notes and a bibliography, Double Victory is an invaluable addition to any student’s or history buff’s bookshelf.
Offering a new and diverse perspective on the war and including source notes and a bibliography, Double Victory is an invaluable addition to any student’s or history buff’s bookshelf.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
20 people are currently reading
1050 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Mullenbach
12 books39 followersCheryl Mullenbach is an award-winning author of non-fiction books for kids and adults. The American Library Association, International Literacy Association, and National Council for Social Studies have recognized her books. Learn more at www.CherylMullenbachInk.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 3, 2016
I didn't like this book nearly as much as I'd liked Mullenbach's Women Heroes of World War II, possibly because it's much more general and doesn't really get in depth with any particular woman's experiences. That said, it does cover an important subject. Americans have, as a nation, been all too willing to forget that protecting racism was more important than winning World War II. As in it's preferable to have a hospital for vets be understaffed than to stoop to the horror of hiring black women as nurses. As in German prisoners of war being given preferential treatment over black soldiers. As in recruiting offices being shut down for the day to avoid giving applications to black women. As in pools needing to be shut down to be cleaned and sterilized after being used by black men and women risking their lives for their country. It's appalling stuff, and even more appalling is how those who directly sabotaged the war effort through their own racism were never really made to account for their actions.
September 10, 2012
I have been given the great honor of blurbing this book! Here's one of my attempts:
Mullenbach has done a great service in telling the stories of these pre-Civil Rights women who had to fight through racial injustice in order to win the right to fight Fascism. The humiliations they had to endure makes for tough reading but their inspiring determination shines through every page.
But this is what I actually sent in on Monday:
"Cheryl Mullenbach has done a great service in telling the stories of these determined black women who fought racial injustice two decades before the Civil Rights movement in order to win the right to fight Fascism alongside their fellow Americans. Double Victory is at once heartbreaking and inspiring.”
Mullenbach has done a great service in telling the stories of these pre-Civil Rights women who had to fight through racial injustice in order to win the right to fight Fascism. The humiliations they had to endure makes for tough reading but their inspiring determination shines through every page.
But this is what I actually sent in on Monday:
"Cheryl Mullenbach has done a great service in telling the stories of these determined black women who fought racial injustice two decades before the Civil Rights movement in order to win the right to fight Fascism alongside their fellow Americans. Double Victory is at once heartbreaking and inspiring.”
February 7, 2013
February is Black History Month and way back in 2011, I looked at a book about African American soldiers in World War II called The Double V Campaign: African Americans and World War II by Michael L. Cooper. The Double V Campaign demanded that African Americans who were risking their lives fighting for freedom and democracy abroad should be given full civil rights at home - Victory at home AND abroad. Cooper's book is an interesting, well-researched book, but it doesn't tell the whole story of the Double Victory Campaign. The Double V campaign was also waged on the home front, and women played a very important part.
In her book, Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II, Cheryl Mullenbach brings together the lives and work of a number of strong, brave women in four areas: women who worked in the war industry, women who became political activists, women in the military, volunteers and of course, women in entertainment.
Here are only a few of the many stories covered in Mullenbach's book:
High school teacher Layle Lane was asked by A. Philip Randolph, a Civil Righs leader, to help organize a March on Washington in 1941 to end discrimination in employment, since most defense plants would not hire African Americans. The march never happened, but Lane was in on the talks with President Roosevelt that led to the issuance of Executive Order Number 8802, which meant if you discriminate, the Fair Employment Practices Committee can investigate you. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
Pauli Murray, a female law student, let students from Howard University in peaceful direct action sit-in at a restaurant that refused to serve African Americans. Three by three the students entered, sat and asked for service. When that was refused, they stayed seated and began to quietly study. Police couldn't arrest them because by not being served, they weren't breaking the law. The owner closed for the day, but when he reopened the next day, the students held a peaceful picket outside and after a few days of lost business, the Whites Only sign came down.
The women who joined the WAAC (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) once it was opened to African Americans discovered the racism and segregation followed them into the military, just as it had followed men of color. Nevertheless, the women soldered on and succeeded. And eventually, Charity Adams even became the first African American woman officer in the WAACs and commanded the 6888th Central Postal Battalion (see Mare's War by Tanita Davis for an interesting and accurate fictional account of one women's experience in the 6888th).
Star power carries a lot of weight and in WWII it was not different. When the Hollywood Victory Campaign was formed, actress Hattie McDaniel was asked to be in charge of "Negro talent" section. Hattie, who had won an Academy Award in 1940 for playing Mammy in Gone with the Wind, helped to organize black entertainers to perform in the segregated all black units of the armed forces. This work required the entertainers would need to meet frequently, usually at Hattie's house. But she lived in a restricted area, meaning no blacks allowed. So when the white homeowners filed a legal complaint, Hattie fought back and won.
Lena Horne, one of my favorite singers, was a favorite during the 1930s and 1940s and she was also part of the Hollywood Victory Campaign. Mullenbach tells about the time on a southern USO tour, Lena performed one night to a white only audience, and the next morning in the mess hall, she was to perform for the black soldiers. But in the front row were German POWs. She left the stage, stood in front of the black soldiers, back to the Germans and sang. She ended up quitting the USO tour over this, but continued entertaining soldiers throughout the war.
These are just a few of the many interesting women included in Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II. It is a well-researched, nicely presented book with lots of supporting photographs and detailed back matter. It is intelligently written, yet very accessible for young readers. The fact that she introduces us to ordinary women doing extraordinary things in wartime makes it all the more valuable. And while it is good to know that anyone can make a difference, not just famous people, it is also nice to read about the contributions of so many African American women, which are often overlooked.
Kathryn Atwood started a narrative about women and their courageous acts in WWII in her work Women Heroes of World War II and Cheryl Mullenbach has extended that narrative to include African American women in Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an E-ARC from Net Galley
In her book, Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II, Cheryl Mullenbach brings together the lives and work of a number of strong, brave women in four areas: women who worked in the war industry, women who became political activists, women in the military, volunteers and of course, women in entertainment.
Here are only a few of the many stories covered in Mullenbach's book:
High school teacher Layle Lane was asked by A. Philip Randolph, a Civil Righs leader, to help organize a March on Washington in 1941 to end discrimination in employment, since most defense plants would not hire African Americans. The march never happened, but Lane was in on the talks with President Roosevelt that led to the issuance of Executive Order Number 8802, which meant if you discriminate, the Fair Employment Practices Committee can investigate you. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
Pauli Murray, a female law student, let students from Howard University in peaceful direct action sit-in at a restaurant that refused to serve African Americans. Three by three the students entered, sat and asked for service. When that was refused, they stayed seated and began to quietly study. Police couldn't arrest them because by not being served, they weren't breaking the law. The owner closed for the day, but when he reopened the next day, the students held a peaceful picket outside and after a few days of lost business, the Whites Only sign came down.
The women who joined the WAAC (Women's Army Auxiliary Corps) once it was opened to African Americans discovered the racism and segregation followed them into the military, just as it had followed men of color. Nevertheless, the women soldered on and succeeded. And eventually, Charity Adams even became the first African American woman officer in the WAACs and commanded the 6888th Central Postal Battalion (see Mare's War by Tanita Davis for an interesting and accurate fictional account of one women's experience in the 6888th).
Star power carries a lot of weight and in WWII it was not different. When the Hollywood Victory Campaign was formed, actress Hattie McDaniel was asked to be in charge of "Negro talent" section. Hattie, who had won an Academy Award in 1940 for playing Mammy in Gone with the Wind, helped to organize black entertainers to perform in the segregated all black units of the armed forces. This work required the entertainers would need to meet frequently, usually at Hattie's house. But she lived in a restricted area, meaning no blacks allowed. So when the white homeowners filed a legal complaint, Hattie fought back and won.
Lena Horne, one of my favorite singers, was a favorite during the 1930s and 1940s and she was also part of the Hollywood Victory Campaign. Mullenbach tells about the time on a southern USO tour, Lena performed one night to a white only audience, and the next morning in the mess hall, she was to perform for the black soldiers. But in the front row were German POWs. She left the stage, stood in front of the black soldiers, back to the Germans and sang. She ended up quitting the USO tour over this, but continued entertaining soldiers throughout the war.
These are just a few of the many interesting women included in Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II. It is a well-researched, nicely presented book with lots of supporting photographs and detailed back matter. It is intelligently written, yet very accessible for young readers. The fact that she introduces us to ordinary women doing extraordinary things in wartime makes it all the more valuable. And while it is good to know that anyone can make a difference, not just famous people, it is also nice to read about the contributions of so many African American women, which are often overlooked.
Kathryn Atwood started a narrative about women and their courageous acts in WWII in her work Women Heroes of World War II and Cheryl Mullenbach has extended that narrative to include African American women in Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II.
This book is recommended for readers age 12+
This book was an E-ARC from Net Galley
February 23, 2017
I'm so glad I read this book. Definitely an eye opener for too much of the American public. There are far too many examples of ridiculousness involved here. That's actually a credit to the author. The examples are great, and I love that she seemed to drop as many names as possible. It's nice to put as many names out there as possible with a book like this.
The ridiculousness has to do with the racists. I know it was the 40's but I'm flat out appalled by some of the examples presented here. Foolish fellow that I am, I failed to preceive racism in its full value despite the wearing of an American military uniform. God bless these women who contributed to the cause in spite of... everything.
The ridiculousness has to do with the racists. I know it was the 40's but I'm flat out appalled by some of the examples presented here. Foolish fellow that I am, I failed to preceive racism in its full value despite the wearing of an American military uniform. God bless these women who contributed to the cause in spite of... everything.
April 20, 2014
This book highlights the tremendous contributions of many women who were overlooked in our history books.
April 4, 2014
So disappointing, I couldn't bring myself to finish it. Such a rich and important topic and such a dry, sanitized presentation that speaks down to its audience.
June 21, 2014
I really wanted to like,this book. I loved the idea of how African American women pushed the boundaries to get more equal rights, but wow was this dry. I couldn't finish it.
September 6, 2018
Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II is written by Cheryl Mullenbach and pays homage to African American Women and how they broke both race and gender barriers to help with the war effort. This book is divided into five chapters: War Workers, Political Activists, In the Military, Volunteers, and Entertainers.
Mullenbach has written powerful and riveting African American women who did extraordinary things to help their country during the Second World War. There are wide range of remarkable African American women as war workers, political activists, military women, volunteers, and entertainers. It was a rather interesting read and informative about this particular time for women of color.
All in all, Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II is a wonderfully written book of women of color – particularly of African American women, who broke both gender and race barriers that greatly helped out in the war effort. It is a good read and reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about women in history.
Mullenbach has written powerful and riveting African American women who did extraordinary things to help their country during the Second World War. There are wide range of remarkable African American women as war workers, political activists, military women, volunteers, and entertainers. It was a rather interesting read and informative about this particular time for women of color.
All in all, Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II is a wonderfully written book of women of color – particularly of African American women, who broke both gender and race barriers that greatly helped out in the war effort. It is a good read and reference book for anyone who wants to learn more about women in history.
Read
November 7, 2019Excellent subject matter, poor writing. The women in The Girls of Atomic City came to life, but the women in Double Victory are flat.
It is still worth reading. In school I remember learning about Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr. Once in a while we heard about Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass, but African Americans contributed much more to our history and I'd like to see more of that taught in our public schools. Actually, being a history buff, I'd like to see a lot more history taught in our schools. We talk about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Edison but there is so much more. And I'd like to see history taught right, it isn't dates and places, history is people and reasons why.
Tell the stories and the children will listen.
It is still worth reading. In school I remember learning about Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr. Once in a while we heard about Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass, but African Americans contributed much more to our history and I'd like to see more of that taught in our public schools. Actually, being a history buff, I'd like to see a lot more history taught in our schools. We talk about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Edison but there is so much more. And I'd like to see history taught right, it isn't dates and places, history is people and reasons why.
Tell the stories and the children will listen.
July 5, 2020
This is a generous 3 stars. While I know it’s considered YA nonfiction and meant for younger readers the writing is very poor. I also don’t like that they censor the word “Nigger” in it. This is black history and it’s important to read the word and see the harm it has instead of white washing it. The only reason I get it a 3 is the fact that I learned why people saved their fat from cooking during the war, a question that has been bugging me as I have been reading newspapers from the war and have seen ads about saving the fats. Also I think it’s a ok introduction to these women but not great, but at least the title didn’t have the word “girls” in it. I probably wouldn’t recommend it.
May 11, 2017
"Double Victory" is an interesting and relevant resource for YA readers who are interested in the role of African American Women during WWII. Many of these stories highlight the contributions and challenges faced by these pioneer women.
The brief stories and photos make reading about this fascinating group come alive. Pick and choose your interests from War Workers, Political Activists, In the Military, Volunteers or Entertainers.
Thank you GoodReads for the book.
August 17, 2021
What a wonderful compilation of stories of black women, known and unknown, and what they accomplished for the war effort in spite of terrible discrimination in the country they sought to defend!
Remember Hattie McDaniel, the meek black maid in "Gone With the Wind"? Wait until you learn what she was really like!
What a great resource, with notes (chapter by chapter), a bibliography, and an index.
Remember Hattie McDaniel, the meek black maid in "Gone With the Wind"? Wait until you learn what she was really like!
What a great resource, with notes (chapter by chapter), a bibliography, and an index.
October 23, 2020
I really enjoyed the topic but the way the book is written is like a textbook. Throughout the book sentences are repeated within a paragraph of each other. The lists of names and/or places add to the textbook feel of the writing. I was hoping for some indepth looks at key figures in the movement but this book is basically an overview.
March 10, 2020
Inspiring, historical and heartbreaking. The stories of these determined black women who fought racial injustice during World War II. They paved the way for the women who continue to create the America we have today.
August 31, 2019
2.5 stars
December 31, 2022
Very educational book about African American women in World War 2. A must read.
February 9, 2018
It was not a fast read for me, I did like that it gave a lot of the womenś background but I did not like how it didn´t move along it stayed on a certain women for a while.
April 1, 2013
Review Posted on Reading Lark 2/2/13: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2013/...
In honor of Black History Month, I jumped at the chance to read this one. I am constantly seeking out stories to inspire my students and share new experiences with them. I was particularly drawn to this book because it featured the story of African American women in WWII. So many students are intrigued by the WWII era, but often the story of women and minorities remains largely unheard. This book showcases the courage, bravery, and contributions of women that I was not familiar with prior to reading the book.
Mullenbach has brilliantly captured the lives of these women. Her candor about their experiences was poignant and informative. I liked that her style was simple enough for middle school students to access on their own, but she still managed to pose some very serious social justice themes. This book inspired and infuriated me all at the same time. I strive to teach my students to judge people on the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Discrimination is always difficult for me to read about because it makes me so angry and sick to my stomach.
The book is separated into several sections: war workers, political activists, in the military, volunteers, and entertainers. I enjoyed that I learned more about the experiences of women on the home front and over seas. My favorite section was the one that focused on women in the military. I am in awe of the amount these women did in spite of discrimination caused by both their race and gender. Life was not easy for women during this time period, but things were far worse for minority women.
This is a must read for anyone interested in WWII, Women's History, or African American History. This is an excellent resource for teachers who are interested in showing a different side of the war or the early Civil Rights Movement. Also, it would be an excellent book to add to your classroom library.
In honor of Black History Month, I jumped at the chance to read this one. I am constantly seeking out stories to inspire my students and share new experiences with them. I was particularly drawn to this book because it featured the story of African American women in WWII. So many students are intrigued by the WWII era, but often the story of women and minorities remains largely unheard. This book showcases the courage, bravery, and contributions of women that I was not familiar with prior to reading the book.
Mullenbach has brilliantly captured the lives of these women. Her candor about their experiences was poignant and informative. I liked that her style was simple enough for middle school students to access on their own, but she still managed to pose some very serious social justice themes. This book inspired and infuriated me all at the same time. I strive to teach my students to judge people on the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Discrimination is always difficult for me to read about because it makes me so angry and sick to my stomach.
The book is separated into several sections: war workers, political activists, in the military, volunteers, and entertainers. I enjoyed that I learned more about the experiences of women on the home front and over seas. My favorite section was the one that focused on women in the military. I am in awe of the amount these women did in spite of discrimination caused by both their race and gender. Life was not easy for women during this time period, but things were far worse for minority women.
This is a must read for anyone interested in WWII, Women's History, or African American History. This is an excellent resource for teachers who are interested in showing a different side of the war or the early Civil Rights Movement. Also, it would be an excellent book to add to your classroom library.
September 18, 2015
This is one of those books you rate higher than normal, simply for its historical value and the work that was done on a topic that is not nearly covered enough. It's clearly for young adults, but I think it may be written too dryly for them.
What I appreciate about this book is that Mullenbach covers the "big names" just as much as the small (although her repeated backhanded compliments to Josephine Baker left me scratching my head a bit). I don't know that the formatting of the book works well for the subject matter. I would've liked a different arrangement; less, "Here is Female X. She did this. Here is Female Y, she did that."
Overall though, Mullenbach provides a good illustration of the contributions of African-American women to achieve the Double Victory: freedoms at home and abroad. This book is a good jumping off point to learn more about their struggles and triumphs.
What I appreciate about this book is that Mullenbach covers the "big names" just as much as the small (although her repeated backhanded compliments to Josephine Baker left me scratching my head a bit). I don't know that the formatting of the book works well for the subject matter. I would've liked a different arrangement; less, "Here is Female X. She did this. Here is Female Y, she did that."
Overall though, Mullenbach provides a good illustration of the contributions of African-American women to achieve the Double Victory: freedoms at home and abroad. This book is a good jumping off point to learn more about their struggles and triumphs.
April 15, 2013
Usually I don't like broad views of historical subjects. I prefer more detailed stories. That holds true here. I desperately want to read about Josephine Baker--dancer and secret allied spy--or Lula Jones Garrett--journalist extraordinaire. However, there is something powerful about seeing so many similar stories. Women trying their hardest to help their country win a vital war and facing discrimination every step of the way.
The irony of defeating an enemy claiming to be the master race while still judging people based on skin color does not escape the authors of this book. It is a very extensive, well researched account. I recommend it for anyone interested in this historical period.
The irony of defeating an enemy claiming to be the master race while still judging people based on skin color does not escape the authors of this book. It is a very extensive, well researched account. I recommend it for anyone interested in this historical period.
May 2, 2013
Amazing! This book should be in every library and classroom around the country and the world. Focusing on the many accomplishments of African American women during the second World World while also focusing on the discrimination they still faced showed the heroism of the women from two different perspectives.
March 29, 2013
This is a book about a fascinating subject -- African--American women's contribution during WW II. Unfortunately, the author's writing style is that of someone who has been asked to write a 9th grade history textbook (she's a social studies consultant). I did manage to overcome it to a sufficient extent that I missed my stop.
June 19, 2016
This book is written for young people, so the writing is simplified to some degree. It contains lots of information and photographs, mainly about lesser known people and events. I am currently writing a novel for which this was helpful. It's not a scholarly tome --- very accessible and I would recommend it for use in schools.
October 10, 2016
The information is great, and I think a high school student doing research for a short paper would find plenty of examples in this book of strong African American women who made a difference. However, the book reads like a series of lists--not an engaging style at all.
September 13, 2022
4/5 stars
It's a good resource if you're researching the topic of African American women's impact on WWII. It does mention multiple women who were forgotten over time. I do recommend checking the sources it got it's information from if you want even more direct sources.
It's a good resource if you're researching the topic of African American women's impact on WWII. It does mention multiple women who were forgotten over time. I do recommend checking the sources it got it's information from if you want even more direct sources.
May 1, 2013
Perhaps, more useful as a reference resource, but full of great information!
December 12, 2016
This was mostly for YA readers, but it felt good going in. Do not ignore the contributions of anyone to society, least of all, women of color.
June 11, 2013
Cheryl Mullenbach is my aunt. I love her book! It has soo many useful resources!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews