Photo By Jennifer McCarthy | The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community closed out a month of celebrating...... read more read more
The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst community closed out a month of sharing and commemorating the accomplishments and contributions of African-Americans to the annals of the nation's growth and prosperity during the Black History Luncheon at Club Dix, March 4.
Army Support Activity-Dix deputy commander for mobilization, Col. Larry Boyd from Westampton, N.J., said, "Black History Month is an opportunity for the Joint Base and the military community as a whole, to celebrate the many cultures represented by our people who make up our ranks. We not only celebrate the Black culture but all cultures and the many contributions that have been added to our communities. The military is the model for how our country has come together out of many cultures and ethnicities and become the shining symbol of freedom for all around the world."
The guest speaker for the Joint Base luncheon was ASA-Dix's own sergeant major for mobilization, Sgt. Maj. Anthony Young, a Soldier with more than 34 years of military service in the Regular Army and Army Reserves.
The Philadelphia native spoke to the audience about the need for economic development to be the central theme of black life. He said, "Black Economic Empowerment has many different facets; the genesis of it all is literacy. The lack of it leads to poverty and poor decisions. The acquisition of it leads to self-assurance and financial stability."
Young spoke about how those who develop themselves to be successful by acquiring knowledge and then applying it constructively back into their communities not only help themselves prosper, but also those around them.
He said Black Economic Empowerment is a reinvestment into community businesses and organizations which help to afford others the opportunity to become successful.
The sergeant major shared how his father did not let the color of his skin get in the way of success, but rather enlisted his networking skills and gift of gab to help him establish a very successful business which supported several major companies and corporations in the Delaware and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania as well as southwest and west Philadelphia.
He said his father encouraged he and his siblings that the color of a person's skin should never be a detractor for effort expended but to put everything they had into each task until they reached success.
"He always told us, 'Don't blame other people for your problems. Figure it out and go get it,'" said Young.
When Young joined the Army he found that the Army values mirrored those he was instilled with by his father. He explained that the values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selflessness Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage apply not only to Soldiers but also to family and community. By putting ones experience and these values into action an individual can create the environment to improve the nation's economic national hardship and create a new economic boom.
Young reiterated that the best investment anyone can make is in knowledge, because an investment in knowledge will always yield a great interest.
Black History was first celebrated by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 and was known as Negro History Week. Woodson was the second African-American to earn a doctorate degree at Harvard University, which he accomplished in 1912.
Known as the father of Black History, Woodson established the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc., to educate others of the many significant contributions by African-Americans. The organization still thrives today.
The observation period was set up to correspond with the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, the week was extended to a month to allow more time to celebrate and observe the event.
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.10.2010 09:40 |
| Story ID: | 46442 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 146 |
| Downloads: | 98 |
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