The Golden Thirteen
(1944)

During World War II, thousands of Black Americans joined the Navy, ready to serve their country. But deep-seated prejudice prevented Black sailors from rising in the ranks, and never in its history had the Navy commissioned Black officers. This is the story of the men who broke that barrier and became the first class of African American officers in the United States Navy, overcoming skepticism and hostility at every turn. Their skill, resilience, and character propelled them to great success in postwar life, and paved the way for today’s diverse armed forces. Lessons updated 06/27/24.

After you download the lesson, be sure to launch the Teacher’s Guide for a lesson plan and a plethora of supplemental materials, including case studies, documents-based questions, assessment tools, and more. For the K-8 crowd, we even have coloring pages!

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