Hatchet-Man by Marvin L. Easter is a compelling, historically grounded work that highlights the experiences of Black firefighters in Flint, Michigan, a city with a deeply rooted industrial and civil rights history. Through a blend of personal narratives, historical context, and community insight, Easter examines the challenges and triumphs of African American men who served in one of the city’s most demanding and dangerous professions.

The journey he takes us on explores:
•	Barriers to entry and the struggle for racial equality within a predominantly white fire service.
•	Personal stories of courage, resilience, and camaraderie among Black firefighters as they fought not only fires but also discrimination and bias.
•	The impact of these firefighters on the Flint community, including their role in public safety, civic pride, and breaking down institutional barriers.
•	Broader reflections on race, service, and identity in an era when civil rights progress was being contested in workplaces across the United States.

Easter’s Hatchet-Man serves both as a tribute to unsung public servants and as a local historical document that preserves an important but often overlooked aspect of Flint’s cultural legacy.

Marvin L Easter
Marvin L. Easter is the author of Hatchet-Man (Financial Independence Association, 1995), a 112-page work that presents the life and struggles of a minority firefighter entering a “lily-white” fire department.