Individuals of African descent have fought in all our nation's wars, going back to the time prior to the formation of the union. One of the most notable events of the Revolutionary War was the Boston Massacre, wherein the British killed five colonists, one of whom was Crispus Attucks, a former slave of African and Native American ancestry. While the colonists were making a stand for their independence from the crown, Attucks' death symbolized the African American struggle to be liberated from those same captors fighting to become a sovereign country. His legacy today is one of an active citizen and American patriot, but for minorities during this time, Attucks' recognition was an exception and not the rule. Over a century and a half later, black World War II (WWII) veterans returned from the European and Pacific theaters to a country that refused to respect or even acknowledge their sacrifices.

The Servicemembers' Readjustment Act of 1944 -- better known as the GI Bill®, was created to assist transitioning soldiers with more than what had been allotted to each individual (which consisted of a train ticket to get home and $60) following World War I. This legislation established entitlements such as educational funding assistance, specialized loans for homes, farms, or businesses, and unemployment pay. While this bill provided opportunities that may otherwise have been out of reach for most of the returning population, these privileges did not extend to African American veterans. The disproportion in which the bill was applied to Black and white veterans contributed to the ever-expanding gaps in education, wealth, and civil liberties. One of the most notorious practices that emerged during this time was redlining, which denotes racial demographics on maps and influenced home loan decisions. Additionally, educational institutions were segregated. Even after the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education, most predominantly white institutions (PWIs) typically applied more stringent criteria for Black applicants that most could never meet. The establishment of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which were created by Black academics and civil leaders to provide access to academic opportunities for African Americans, predates the creation of the GI Bill®. Still, these institutions were invaluable for Black veterans during this period. Over 95% of Black veterans attended HBCUs, which, compared to PWIs, were underfunded and inundated by a flood of new applicants.

The military has been described as a "family business" because 80% of new enlistees report that a family member had previously served, and of that group, 30% were their parents. African Americans are more represented than ever in the military, with females and males representing 29% and 17% of the total force's population. Still, the uniform does not garner the same level of respect for many African Americans as it does for their Caucasian counterparts. In December 2020, a Black Army lieutenant, Caron Nazario, was struck, pepper sprayed, and handcuffed, without ever being arrested, during a routine traffic stop; all this transpired while Nazario was in his duty uniform. Most veterans and active-duty service members do not intentionally seek out preferential treatment, but the core values of the armed forces do create an expectation that these individuals will be treated equitably in all aspects of their lives.

As an active-duty Black female officer, I have faced challenges on and off duty that have sometimes made me question the decision to ever don the uniform, but those instances have been few and far between in my 19 years of service. I am fortunate to have been assigned to organizations where many of my leaders have been sincere, supportive, encouraging, understanding, and, most importantly, empathetic to my plight as a double minority who is confronted daily with challenges they never even knew existed. I would ask that during this Black History Month, you go beyond the surface-level recognition of racial disparities faced by African Americans, especially in academia. Consider what personal biases (please do not adopt the perspective that you do not have any) you have that may adversely impact minority students at your institution. Hopefully, through deliberate contemplation of these issues, you will be able to consistently, not just during the month of February, identify behaviors and actions that are incongruent with providing an equitable academic environment for all.

One stereotype veterans face is that they are not as intelligent as their civilian peers, and they join the military due to limited academic and career options. Females are often pigeonholed into specific professions and excluded from others, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Minorities that are successful in their occupations are sometimes made to believe that they have progressed due to diversity initiatives instead of being promoted based on their merits. I fall into all three of these categories and have encountered inequity as I have moved through my educational journey due to preconceived notions of my work ethic and competence. I implore you to act as allies in identifying and removing barriers to equitable educational opportunities for minority veterans all year.

Article Topics

Military Friendly Institutions Serving Military in HigherEd Veterans Academic Success Women Veterans Workplace Inclusion

Republish this article for free. We want to make it easier for you to share knowledge and creativity, and encourage you to reuse our articles under a Creative Commons license.