Description
Book SynopsisHow does military service collide with Black identity in a racially stratified America? Black Veteranality is an examination of the intersection of race, patriotism, and military service from the perspective of Black veterans, offering a robust framework for reimagining American patriotism and reframing veteran identity. Black veteranality emerges through an interdisciplinary synthesis of W.E.B. DuBoisâ foundational concept of âœdouble-consciousnessââthe psychological duality Black Americans experience when negotiating racialized identity formationsâand Veteran Critical Theoryâs structural analysis of institutional power dynamics shaping military service members. Through critical ethnography and narrative interviews, this conceptual framework interrogates monolithic veteran narratives by documenting how Black servicemembers simultaneously embody patriotic ideals through military service while confronting systemic racismâs psychological toll and navigate what critical race scholars term the White gazeâa hegemonic social mechanism that perpetuates exclusion through perpetual scrutiny of Black veteransâ cultural authenticity and national belonging. Essential reading for scholars of African American studies, American Studies, Veteran Studies, and military professions, this work bridges academia and activism, proving true loyalty lies in confronting systemic inequities.
