About this item
A YA memoir of surviving sexual abuse in the Air Force academy. I want to be in the Air Force someday.These are the words Polo Tate engraved on her junior dog tags at age eleven. It was an unpopular dream for most young girls, but her hard work paid off and at age eighteen, Polo started basic training at the United States Air Force Academy.She does everything right, from academics to athletics. But no one prepared her for what came next: physical, sexual, and emotional abuse at the hands of her superiors. Harassment from peers who refused to believe her story. Deep Dark Blue is more than a memoir about sexual assault. It's about breaking boundaries but also setting them. It's about learning to trust your instincts. It's a story of survival, resilience, and finally, finding your joy.
About the Author
Polo Tate was born in Lansing, Michigan, where her family has deep ties to the community. Her Great Great Grandfather was Ransom Eli Olds (R.E. Olds) , a pioneer and prolific inventor most notably responsible for inventing the first American internal combustion automobile - the Oldsmobile.
Growing up, Tate used her athletic prowess and academic aptitude to earn appointments to both The United States Military Academy at West Point (USMA) , and the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs (USAFA) . She decided to accept the challenge to attend USAFA out of high school, where she played varsity volleyball in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) . Tate left during her second year, and her harrowing journey at one of our nation's most challenging institutions, can now be found in her gritty, honest and dynamic debut memoir, Deep Dark Blue.
After leaving USAFA, Tate restarted her college career at the University of Notre Dame. She played Volleyball for the Irish in the Big East Conference and eventually graduated with a B.A. degree in Film, Television and Theatre.
She is now an actor, writer, artist and comedian, performing at companies such as the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Broadway Comedy Club, Reckless, and the PIT. She lives in New York City.
Polo Tate is a modern-day renaissance woman. Her talent is enormous; her energy, boundless. She loves people, lives every moment to the fullest, lets no one take her joy, and avidly practices the belief that you can do anything upon which you set your mind, heart and spirit.
