Uncle Sam’s new message to young #BlackAmericans: I don’t want you
Opinion by Phillip E. Thompson, a fmr judge advocate in the Marine Corps & lawyer in Virginia.
“I am a proud Marine #veteran w/deep ties to #military service. My wife served in the #AirForce, my father fought with the #Marines in WWII, & my grandfather served in the #Army in WWI.
#USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
https://wapo.st/3Hd4MZq
“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
“#Trump & his allies have pushed aggressively to defund or eliminate #DEI programs across the #military. One of Trump’s first actions was to fire the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff, Gen #CQBrown Jr, only the 2nd #AfricanAmerican ever to hold that position. Training on racial bias, cultural competency & inclusive leadership has been gutted & labeled ‘radical.’
#USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“Officers who speak up about #race or systemic injustice are accused of pushing ‘politics,’ while those promoting exclusionary rhetoric are celebrated as patriots.
“The message is clear: If you’re #Black, #Brown or anything other than the old guard — a #White #male — your presence in the #military is conditional & increasingly unwelcome.
#Trump #USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“More disturbingly, the admin & its ideological allies are erasing the accomplishments of #Black #ServiceMembers from the nation’s #military narrative. Units such as the 369th Infantry Regiment, known as the #HarlemHellfighters; the #TuskegeeAirmen; the #MontfordPointMarines; & the #BuffaloSoldiers are no longer central to the story the military tells about itself.
#Trump #USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“The #Pentagon has erased countless #photos, #videos & articles about these units from its websites — although quickly restoring some, like the #TuskegeeAirmen, in response to an outcry.
“This isn’t a side issue — it’s a direct assault on #truth & #legacy. It’s a denial of the sacrifices of generations of #BlackAmericans who fought & died for a country that did not always return the favor.
#Trump #military #USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“Of course, #Hegseth & his supporters argue that their opposition to #DEI stems from a commitment to fairness & meritocracy. They assert that their aim is to benefit all #ServiceMembers, including #Black personnel, by eliminating what they perceive as divisive policies.
#Trump #military #USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“But #Black #ServiceMembers have historically faced significant barriers to advancement, & these barriers still remain. As of 2023, Black individuals constituted 19.5% of enlisted personnel but only 9.2% of officers. Black officers are particularly underrepresented at the highest levels; only 6.5% of generals are Black. These discrepancies suggest systemic challenges that disproportionately affect promotion outcomes based on #race.
“#DEI initiatives were designed to complement—not replace—meritocracy. They aim to ensure that all #ServiceMembers are evaluated fairly & have equal access to opportunities, thereby strengthening the #military as a whole.
“So I ask again: Why should young #BlackAmericans serve under a govt & military leadership that doesn’t respect their presence, their contributions or their history?
#Trump #military #USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
“Why should they risk their lives for a nation unwilling to defend them against #racism—or even acknowledge their service in its own historical record?
“My experience is that #BlackAmericans who serve are built different. We don’t scare easily. We lead from the front. We serve because we believe in something larger than ourselves. Many of us would — & have — give our lives for this country.
#Trump #military #USpol #hate #bigotry #discrimination #WhiteSupremacy
“Service provided a twofold bargain for the country & the individual.
“But #military service is a profound sacrifice. And when that sacrifice is met with hostility, erasure or contempt from political leaders at the highest levels, we must pause & reassess.
“Is it still worth it?
“Right now, as I watch what is happening, my answer is, sadly, no.”
#BlackAmericans #Trump #Hegseth #USpol #hate #discrimination #bigotry #racism #WhiteSupremacy
Nonilex
punIssuer