The Employment of Negro Troops - Definitive Military History

In this review of The Employment of Negro Troops, the bottom line is simple: readers seeking a rigorous, historically grounded account of African American service in the U.S. Army will find a landmark study that remains authoritative decades after its writing. Ulysses Lee produced a dense, carefully documented work written largely between 1947 and 1951, and this review highlights why the book endures as a key source for military historians and students of social integration in American institutions.

Key Features

• Comprehensive historical scope: The book covers the evolution and roles of Black soldiers across multiple conflicts, offering a broad context for the Army's integration.
• Authoritative research: Lee's contemporary use of records and firsthand material provides a foundation that later scholarship continues to cite and build on.
• Objective tone: The narrative aims for measured analysis rather than polemic, making it useful for academic courses and disciplined readers.
• Lasting relevance: Written before the Civil Rights movement, the study's continued reputation speaks to its durable insights into military and social change.
• Useful reference value: The work functions as a primary reference for historians tracing the Army's policies and practices affecting African American troops.

Who It's For

Historians, graduate students and instructors in military history or African American studies will benefit most from Lee's meticulous approach and archival grounding. Readers looking for a measured, source-based account of the integration of the Army will find the book especially valuable as a reference and course text.

General readers seeking a short popular narrative or a contemporary interpretive synthesis of civil rights-era perspectives may want a more recent synthesis alongside Lee's study; this work is best appreciated by those ready for a deliberate, scholarly read rather than light background reading.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Enduring authority: the book remains a standard reference for the subject and is widely cited.
• Solid documentation: the research basis gives readers confidence in Lee's conclusions and timelines.
• Balanced analysis: Lee's objective tone makes the study suitable for academic use and citation.

Cons

• The original writing period (1947-1951) means some later interpretive developments and sources are not included.

Specifications

Title	The Employment of Negro Troops
Author	Ulysses Lee
Subject	Military and social history of African American soldiers
Written	Largely between 1947 and 1951
Reputation	Long-recognized standard work on the subject
Use	Academic reference and course text

Our Verdict

For serious students of military history and African American studies, The Employment of Negro Troops remains a valuable and cost-effective investment because of its archival grounding and balanced analysis. Readers who need a comprehensive, objective account of the Army's integration will find Lee's study durable and informative, though complementing it with more recent scholarship will give a fuller contemporary perspective.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book still relevant for modern study?
Yes. Its archival research and measured analysis make it a lasting reference, though pairing it with newer work helps cover later interpretations.

Who is the author and when was it written?
Ulysses Lee wrote the study largely between 1947 and 1951, and it has been widely recognized since publication.

Is the book suitable for classroom use?
Yes. Its authoritative tone and documentation make it well suited for university courses in military history and African American studies.