Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America’s First Black Generals
This easy-to-read book presents the histories of Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. (Ollie) and his son Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (Ben). Father and son became the first Black generals in the U.S. In 2012, George Lucas released the movie Redtails about America’s first Black aerial squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen, founded and led by Ben. But when Ben’s grandson (author Melville) attended an early screening, he discovered the movie had scrubbed all the names of the true-life heroes. It stunned Melville and impelled him to a decade of research and writing about his ancestors.
Melville discovered that the Lucas film continued the practice of hiding Black achievements and traumas in the deeply racist military. Among many examples, until 1948 no Black soldier was buried at the Arlington National Cemetery. During his four years at West Point (1932-36), the other cadets, all white, ignored Ben in total silence. Tuskegee aviators won a competition against other squadrons, but the victory was never celebrated. Ollie and Ben’s promotions were delayed without cause, their military campaigns never touted. A detailed list of dates and milestones at the book’s front helps readers follow the key events in the Davis family history.
Melville’s work barely touches on wars and battles. Instead, Melville probes deeply into how father and son overcame, never played victim, and yet received ultimate—though often late—recognition and honors. Today a splendid new dormitory at West Point bears the Davis name. After recounting the Davis history, Melville, now a corporate Diversity CEO, provides guides on how to keep alive the memories of those who have come before us and honor them through our own purposeful lives. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about real struggles of Americans not born into white privilege.
