Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy, and a Quest to Honor America's First Black Generals

The amazing true story of America's first Black generals, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. and Jr., a father and son who helped integrate the American military and created the Tuskegee Airmen. Perfect for fans of Devotion and Hidden Figures.

Red Tails, George Lucas's celebration of America's first Black flying squadron, the Tuskegee Airmen, should have been a moment of victory for Doug Melville. He expected to see his great-uncle Benjamin O. Davis Jr.--the squadron's commander--immortalized on-screen for his selfless contributions to America. But as the film rolled, Doug was shocked when he realized that Ben Jr.'s name had been omitted and replaced by the fictional Colonel A. J. Bullard. And Ben's father, Benjamin O. Davis Sr., America's first Black general who helped integrate the military, was left out too.

Dejected, Doug looked inward and realized that unless he worked to bring their inspirational story to light, it would remain hidden from the world just as it had been concealed from him.

In Invisible Generals, Melville shares his quest to rediscover his family's story across five generations, from post-Civil War America to modern day Asia and Europe. In life, the Davises were denied the recognition and compensation they'd earned, but through his journey, Melville uncovers something greater: that dedication and self-sacrifice can move proverbial mountains--even in a world determined to make you invisible.

Invisible Generals recounts the lives of a father and his son who always maintained their belief in the American dream. As the inheritor of their legacy, Melville retraces their steps, advocates for them to receive their long-overdue honors and unlocks the potential we all hold to retrieve powerful family stories lost to the past.

Author: Doug Melville
Publisher: Atria/Black Privilege Publishing
Published: 11/07/2023
Pages: 256
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.50h x 6.10w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781668005132


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 06/01/2023 pg. 15
Kirkus Reviews 10/01/2023
Booklist 11/01/2023 pg. 20

About the Author
Doug Melville, as a fifth-generation leader with a family that has worked under ten different presidential administrations, is a global head of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the luxury industry. He has given three TEDx Talks and has been featured in numerous periodicals, including Forbes, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, and more. Invisible Generals is his first book. Find out more at DougMelville.com and follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter @DougMelville.