Roi Ottley's World War II

“Journalist Roi Ottley (1906–60), already known as author of New World A-Coming (1943) on African American life in the 1920s and 1930s, was commissioned as a lieutenant in World War II to serve as a war correspondent in Europe. His published and unpublished writings offer a fascinating glimpse into a segregated world on the eve of historic change. . . . Highly recommended.”—Library Journal (starred review)

“On almost every page of this book, Ottley’s sensitivity to, and insights into, comparative racial attitudes are on display. This by itself makes the book a unique and extraordinarily valuable testament as well as a hardheaded, clear-eyed and intuitive look into a past that is thankfully no longer with us.”—Washington Times

“Ottley, once one of the nation’s most famous black correspondents, is today largely forgotten. His work offers a window on what it was like for black journalists traveling with the armed forces and trying to cover racial inequities under the strictures of censorship and prejudice.”—Nieman Reports

“An illuminating portrait of a forgotten black writer.”—National Catholic Reporter

"The breadth of Ottley’s subject matter opens a new window onto the Civil Rights movement as an international issue rather than just an American one, while bringing to light new information about race relations. Huddle’s effort fully succeeds in his stated goal of reintroducing Roi Ottley as an important voice of the Civil Rights movement while helping extend the parameters of this vital part of American history from its generally accepted origins in the 1950s and 1960s to the interwar period and World War II."—On Point

"Ottley may have provided the closest approximation of Ernie Pyle for the Negro soldier of World War II."—Military Review

"An interesting read. . . . the book is a behind-the-scenes look into Ottley’s story ideas, interviews, personal thoughts about the war, American allies, and how people of color would be affected by the decisions made by whites, both American and European. . . . A good book for historians of this time period to have on their shelves. It provides much needed behind-the-scenes observations from a correspondent who travelled outside the normal circles."—American Journalism

"An interesting read. Ottley’s journal entries provide a behind-the-scenes look into his story ideas, interviews, and personal thoughts about the war, American allies, and how people of color would be affected by the decisions made by whites, both American and European."—Journalism History

“If you think you know the American experience of World War II, just try looking at the European theater through the eyes of African American war correspondent Roi Ottley. I found fascinating new stuff on page after page.”—James Tobin, author of Ernie Pyle’s War

“Ottley’s lively and original writings provide a vivid and heartfelt portrait of African American soldiers as they struggled to bring democracy to Europe and America during the World War II era. . . . An important contribution to our understanding of African American history and American race relations”—Albert S. Broussard, author of African-American Odyssey: The Stewarts, 1853–1963