Photo By 2nd Lt. Cody Kellum | Capt. Danielle O. Murray, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Forward commander,...... read more read more
1st Infantry Division Forward soldiers gathered today for an observance in honor of Black History Month in Poznan, Poland, on February 27, 2020.
Black History Month is an important annual observance and celebration of the achievements of African Americans in the United States. Originating in 1976 in the U.S., the observance is now internationally recognized by some of our NATO partners and allies including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.
The history of African American participation in the U.S. military dates back to the Revolutionary War when approximately 9,000 African slaves and free people of color fought for the Continental Army and Navy. During World War II, over 2.5 million African American men registered for the draft, and 125,000 served overseas in combat operations in segregated units. Some of the most famous of these units were the Tuskegee Airmen, 761st Tank Battalion and 452nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion.
“Black soldiers have helped secure the freedoms of the American people before we could understand the very context of freedom,” said Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Lane, 1st
Infantry Division Forward noncommissioned officer. “The Army has been one of the singular sources of societal change. The sacrifices made by the people who serve as part of this cultural enclave always eventually ushers in a new era of diversity for society at large.”
The performance and professionalism of these segregated African American units during World War II led to the desegregation of all U.S. military branches in 1948 by President Harry S. Truman.
Presently, approximately 16% of service members in the U.S. military are African American. Those 16% constitute an even larger share of the U.S. Army where African Americans make up 22% of the Army Reserve, 21% of active duty and 15% of the National Guard.
“For me, Black History Month is a time of reflection, a time of rejoicing, a time of pride,” said Capt. Danielle Murray, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Forward commander. “I would like to take the time to express my gratitude for those African Americans who were on the forefront of the fight for equality, those who not so long ago put their lives in danger so that I can stand in this very room on February 27, 2020, proud and embracing the skin that I’m in, and share with you Black History.”
| Date Taken: | 02.27.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2020 10:56 |
| Story ID: | 364017 |
| Location: | POZNAN, PL |
| Hometown: | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 65 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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