“But as I look at today’s political environment — at President Donald #Trump, his allies & #Defense Secy #PeteHegseth — I’m forced to ask a question I never thought I’d have to pose: Should young #BlackAmericans serve in a #military led by people who seem openly hostile to them & the legacy of those who came before them?”
#USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“My father & grandfather served in segregated units during the World Wars. They fought for #democracy abroad while being denied it at home. When my grandfather returned to Mississippi from WWI, he was forced to flee the state by #WhiteSupremacists who saw his service in France — as a #Black man in an unsegregated society — as a threat. My father returned from WWII only to be treated like a #SecondClassCitizen, denied certain #veterans #benefits & rights under #JimCrow.
“When I served in the 1980s & ’90s, #racism still existed in the ranks. But many of us believed we could overcome it through dedication & excellence. We saw leaders like Gen #ColinPowell rise to the top. My wife earned senior enlisted status in the #AirForce. I was quoted in a 1991 Newsweek article, ‘The Battle for Respect,’ about #inequality in the #military. Speaking that truth came at a cost to my career, but I stood by it then—& still do.
“Through it all, I remained proud of my service & the progress we were making.
“Under Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton & George W. Bush, #Black #ServiceMembers weren’t always treated fairly—but we were not treated as enemies of the institution. Today, it appears that’s no longer the case.
#Trump #military #USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“Under #Trump & #Hegseth, the environment for #Black #ServiceMembers is deteriorating. To my eyes, the campaign against ‘wokeism’ is not about #military readiness or discipline. It’s a thinly veiled attack on diversity, equity & inclusion — values that reflect both the reality of the #American people & the strength of a united fighting force.”
#USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
