Black at Work · Black History · Veterans Reading List
Suggested Reading
Explore books, articles, and research on Black history, workplace experiences, military service, and equal opportunity.
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Black at Work
Books
The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table
Minda Harts
A career guide exploring workplace challenges, advancement, professional relationships, and self-advocacy for women of color.
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Right Within: How to Heal from Racial Trauma in the Workplace
Minda Harts
Explores the emotional impact of workplace racism and offers guidance for recognizing racial trauma and finding a path toward healing.
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No More Invisible Man: Race and Gender in Men’s Work
Adia Harvey Wingfield
A research-based examination of Black men’s experiences in professional workplaces, including career advancement and professional relationships.
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Articles
AI Hiring Tools Can Yield Racial Bias and Systemic Rejection
Rishi Bommasani, Sarah H. Bana, Kathleen A. Creel, Dan Jurafsky, and Percy Liang; Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, 2026
Stanford researchers examine racial disparities in AI hiring tools and how the use of the same tools across employers can affect applicants.
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Most Americans say racial bias is a problem in the workplace. Can AI help?
Monica Anderson, Pew Research Center, 2023
Examines views on racial bias in hiring and performance evaluations, including whether people believe AI could help address it.
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Black workers’ views and experiences in the U.S. labor force stand out in key ways
Katherine Schaeffer, Pew Research Center, 2023
Brings together survey findings and workforce data on Black workers’ experiences, discrimination, opportunity, and views about workplace diversity.
Black History
Books
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619–2019
Edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
A collection of essays and poetry by Black writers exploring four centuries of African American history through many voices and perspectives.
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The Mis-Education of the Negro
Carter G. Woodson
A foundational work examining education and its influence on how Black people understand their history, identity, and place in society.
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Journal articles
The Forgotten Legacy of Carter G. Woodson: Contributions to Multicultural Social Studies and African American History
LaGarrett J. King, Ryan M. Crowley, and Anthony L. Brown, The Social Studies, 2010
Examines Woodson’s work to research, teach, and share Black history. The link opens a PDF.
Racial Segregation under Slavery
Martin Ruef, Social Forces, 2022
Uses historical records and architectural surveys to examine how slavery shaped the separation of Black and white communities in the United States before the Civil War.
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The Legacy of the 1968 Fair Housing Act
Douglas S. Massey, Sociological Forum, 2015
Traces the creation of racial segregation in housing, the passage of the Fair Housing Act, and changes in residential segregation afterward.
Military & Veterans
Books
One Woman’s Army: A Black Officer Remembers the WAC
Charity Adams Earley
The memoir of a pioneering Black Army officer who commanded the Six Triple Eight during World War II.
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A Soldier’s Life: A Black Woman’s Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion
Edna W. Cummings
A retired Army colonel recounts her path to military leadership and her efforts to secure recognition for the women of the Six Triple Eight.
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Bloods: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans
Wallace Terry
Black veterans describe their experiences serving during the Vietnam War and returning home in this collection of firsthand accounts.
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Articles and research
Why Black Officers Fail
Remo Butler, Parameters, U.S. Army War College Quarterly, 1999
Examines challenges affecting the advancement of Black Army officers, including mentorship and institutional barriers. It provides a historical perspective on race, leadership, and opportunity.
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Air Force Releases Findings of Racial Disparity Review
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense, 2020
Summarizes an Air Force review of disparities affecting Black airmen and space professionals in military justice, career opportunities, promotions, and leadership.
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Military Justice: DOD and the Coast Guard Need to Improve Their Capabilities to Assess Racial Disparities
U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2020
A report on racial and ethnic disparities in the military justice system and the agencies’ ability to assess them.
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Military Women: Changes in Representation and Experiences
Brenda L. Moore, Handbook of Military Sciences, 2020
An open-access chapter exploring changes in women’s representation, roles, and experiences in the military.
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Duty, Honor, Country, Disparity: Race/Ethnic Differences in Health and Disability among Male Veterans
Connor M. Sheehan, Robert A. Hummer, Brenda L. Moore, Kimberly R. Huyser, and John Sibley Butler, 2015
A research article examining racial and ethnic differences in health and disability among male veterans.
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Perceptions of Equal Opportunity among Women and Minority Army Personnel
Brenda L. Moore and Schuyler C. Webb, Sociological Inquiry, 2000
Examines perceptions of equal opportunity among women and minority Army personnel. The abstract is free; full-text access has not been confirmed.