Background
Chauncey Spencer holds a firm place in American history. He learned to fly during the early 1930s, an era marked by blatant racism and strife. He became a stunt man with the National Airmen's Association, and was instrumental in the inclusion of Blacks into the Army Air Corps.
A graduate of Virginia Seminary College, Spencer was a Civil Service officer who was awarded the Exceptional Civil Service Award and Medal, only to be branded a Communist during the McCarthy era. He served as Police Commissioner of San Bernardino, California, and was the Deputy Administrator for the City of Highland Park, Michigan.
He was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, and son of famed poet Anne Spencer (2) and Edward Spencer. He was born in Lynchburg, Virginia.
The Book
In a period when our country has suffered loss of prestige, respect, and other devastating events—not only by allies and foes but by our citizens—Chauncey E. Spencer speaks out profoundly and boldly advocating his belief in America and what it supposedly stands for.
Branded a Communist, stripped of all dignity, persecuted by friends and enemies, he steadfastly maintained his belief in the "American dream." Although his dilemma did not have the international effect of the Dreyfus Affair (The Jewish-French officer who was falsely accused and court martialed for treason, degraded and transported to the penal "Île du Diable" in 1894), the pain, the frustration, and the agony suffered by himself and his family were undoubtedly just as poignant. Yet, this man maintained his dignity and his belief in the goodness and strength of men and America.
Who is Chauncey Spencer? is just one of the many indications of Americans regaining and continuously striving for justice, equality, and freedom.
As Chauncey quotes in his autobiography from Sterling Brown's poem "Strong Men"—
The strong men keep a-comin' on
The strong men git stronger …