The Golden Thirteen

The story of the 13 courageous black men who integrated the officer corps of the United States Navy -serving as forerunners of the civil rights movement and leaders of desegregation across America

Through previously unpublished oral histories and original interviews with surviving family members, Dan Goldberg brings 13 forgotten heroes away from the margins of history and into the spotlight. He reveals the opposition that these men faced in becoming officers, including racist pseudo-science, regional prejudices, verbal abuse, and even violence.

Despite the immense challenges they faced, The Golden Thirteen persisted - understanding the power of desegregation, the opportunities for black Americans if they succeeded, and the consequences if they failed. Before the Navy introduced their initiative to commission the first black officers, black men in the Navy could only hold jobs as cleaners, cooks, and steward mates. The Golden Thirteen, the first black men selected to undergo training, worked harder than they ever had in their lives and ultimately passed their exams with the highest average of any class in Navy history. In March 1944, these sailors became officers; the first black men to wear the gold stripes. Yet even then, their fight wasn't over: the official executive order to desegregate the military did not come until 1948, and for four years, these men continued to endure daily humiliation even as officers: white men refused to salute them, refused to eat at their table, and refused to accept that black men could be superior to them in rank. These 13 men, each from vastly different backgrounds, banded together - never losing sight of how their lives could shape history.

In the vein of Hidden Figures, The Golden Thirteen reveals the contributions of heroes that were previously lost to history.