Personal Narrative: General Roscoe Robinson Jr.

Before WORLD WAR I, military service represented a source of black pride. Black educators, clergymen, and the press frequently referred to Negro heroes of America’s past wars. After the Civil War, the U.S, Army maintained four regular Negro regiments –the 9th and 10th Calvary and the 24th and 25th Infantry. These units included veterans of the civil war and the frontier Indian fighting regiments. Retired sergeants often became respected, conservative leaders in their communities. This history set a foundation for black support and involvement in America’s future wars.

I’m currently seeking membership in Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, for brotherhood and a friendship, with successful leaders who strive to compel an impact in their communities. Through all my interactions and meeting with members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the features that stood out to me the most that made me personally want to become a member were the friendship they held with each other, and those of similar characteristics. The fact that they were willing to help other men continue to grow and better themselves in any way they could. The men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated that I have met, have pushed myself to become a better man and friend. These bonds have added a value to my life that I am forever grateful for.

The Armed Services has always been a microcosm of the US people. Nowhere else will you find a more diverse group living and working together in close proximity. It has been seen from history that whatever program and policies that the Army institutes within its ranks, the civilian population eventually follows suit. Racial

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was born December 18, 1912 in Washington D.C. His father, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. was one of the few African-American officers in the U.S. Army. Davis, Jr. was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy in 1932 by Rep. Oscar S. De Priest, the only black congressman at that time. At West Point he endured ostracism from both classmates and superiors who wanted to see him fail. He persevered and graduated 35th in a class of 276 in 1936. He was the fourth African-American graduate in the Academy’s history. Upon commissioning he and his father became the only two black officers in the army. His application to the Army Air Corps was refused because the Air Corps did not accept African-Americans.

For centuries African American have been struggled against racial in America. During World War II the U.S. government asked for volunteers to join the army of defense, over 2.5 million of black men registered for the draft World, around 1 million served as draftees or volunteers in the armed forces within all branches. But didn’t received the same opportunity to serve in the same manner as white soldiers. They were to segregated combat support groups. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt and civil rights organizations pressured U.S Navy to recruited blacks for service.

I do feel that policy can be affected based on privilege and who is presenting the information and how policy makers respond to that person. If that person that is representing is not hetero normative in the eyes of the decision makers leaves me to believe their may be some biases among law makers depending on their current beliefs. I don’t feel privilege when it comes to race will be represented in the military. However anywhere you see different people of color there will be some thought of discrimination whether it be historical trauma or discrimination. There may be a fear from past discrimination. I think being in the military is like having a number. From my experience being a military wife they categorize

It wasn’t until I earned a few college degrees that the military would even entertain my packets for promotion where I was station. Once I realized my ignorance regarding not just racism but also sexism I found myself encouraging minorities to obtain an education in order to compete. As Spencer (2008) said in his article “education and employment opportunity, he was made in his opinion palatable to the dominant culture.” This article compels me to think of situations from my past life experiences. It amazed me how much I overlooked some hurdles that I overcame when it comes to racism and/or sexism. My reflection involved my critical thinking skills to determine if I deliberately block it out or did I truly forget. I found myself questioning my experience and opportunity to search for new perspectives and new solutions if

Discrimination is, unfortunately, is not new to the Army. Gender and religious discrimination are carried over from civilian life. Racism is no exception as to the varying types of discrimination some bring into the Army. The Army provides training regarding what expectations there are, but the Army will never be able to truly legislate morality.

Jack Roosevelt Robinson, born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919 was the youngest of five children. As a child, Jackie and his family were harassed by their white neighbors in Pasadena, California, which started to send Robinson down a bad path. That is until a Reverend at his church started to influence him religiously, which got him back on the right path. In 1941, Robinson was drafted to play football for the Honolulu Bears.

‘The US military tested recruits to assign rank and found that black applicants scored lower than whites. However, analysis of the recruits were found to be due to educational differences; black recruits scored very low until the 1950s, when an increase in score corresponded to improved educational standards for all.’

Referring to his World War I experiences, Colonel James A. Moss, commander of the 367th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Division, stated, "As fighting troops, the Negro must be rated as second-class material, this primarily to his inferior intelligence and lack of mental and moral qualities." Colonel Perry L. Miles,

Propelled by the civil rights movement of the 1960s and to counteract a national policy of segregation and inequality, the Department of Defense (DoD) mandated race relations training in 1971. The violent and nonviolent disorders of the late 1960s were the catalyst that convinced military leaders that race relations education must be provided to every member of the Armed Forces.

Both services seek to ensure that, in terms of race and ethnicity, the group of officers commissioned in the year 2000 roughly reflects the overall population: 12 percent African American, 12 percent Hispanic, and 5 percent Asian. Department of the Navy officials point out that this represents a significantly more aggressive goal than had been the case, when the focus for comparison had been on college graduates; the more aggressive goal implies vigorous outreach and other efforts. Moreover, the Navy and the Marine Corps have set specific year-by-year targets for meeting the 12/12/5 goal.” (1995) When taking affirmative action, one must be careful not to establish quotas. This would start to become the glass ceiling, glass walls, or glass escalator. When a corporation, military, or business starts to promote unqualified minorities to fill a quota, that is just a bad and discriminatory as being racist or profiling.

The United States Army is a gigantic institute with an international presence. One of its fundamental sources of power is the diversity of its personnel, which includes 1.6 million workforce across the active, reserve, civilian, and contractor parts. While the Army was at the vanguard of ethnic incorporation in the 1950s and at present is one of the most assorted institutes in the U.S., further advancement must be made on the diversity front. The term "diversity" can be classified along countless aspects; this paper concentrates on racial diversity since the exceptional and traditionally important role that race has in matters of diversity in the Army. Internal communications concerning delegate leadership throughout the force, the Army sketches power from its cultural and racial diversity.

Prejudice within the military can be found when service members of racial and sexual minorities are being the target of favoritism. Back in 1948, anti-Black approaches were widespread movements in the U.S. military, what made President Truman order an end to the racial discrimination in the armed forces. Even though Whites' approaches toward Blacks in the military have transformed in the past fifty years, racial prejudice is still common throughout the military society. Moreover, substantial numbers of heterosexual service members expressed negative attitudes toward gay men and lesbians (Race).