While I was out yesterday, I was text messaging a friend from home and she told me, "I'm goin away for a lil bit. I thought we were going to talk about this over dinner." Now, where I'm from the phrase 'going away for bit' means one thing: prison. So naturally, I sobered up upon reading this and continued on with the conversation; refusing to wait until dinner to know what was going on. Eventually, she gave in and told me that she was leaving for basic training in a month. While I was relieved to find out that she wasn't in any type of trouble, I was simultaneously saddened to hear that this bright young woman had chosen the military over college. This is not to say that the military is a dishonorable profession; I have the utmost respect for anyone willing to die for his/her country. However, since high school, I have seen too many friends choose enlistment over enrollment. I use the word 'choose' here loosely, as the decision was typically determined by circumstance. Now for some history…
When African Americans were first allowed to serve in the military in the 19th Century, it was considered a great honor and all individuals who were allowed to enlist took full advantage. These proud soldiers fought not only for 'their' country, but also for eventual freedom of their people. Their heroic acts, however, were not limited to battlefield. When these men returned to their communities, they brought with them their newfound literacy and spread the gift to all those who had a desire to learn. Not only did they teach others to read, but made efforts to financially support educational institutions. In Greensboro, Georgia soldiers of the 175th Battalion of New York Volunteers raised $65 to help purchase land for a school building; that once erected, hosted a solider from that unit as its first teacher. During the late 19th Century, the military offered black men resources that were difficult to obtain from other mediums; sadly, in the 21st Century, the military is still viewed in a similar light. Often times, without the same level of benefits as those experienced by soldiers of 175th Battalion of New York.
The racial progress that has been made since the first black soldiers put on a uniform would lead an outsider to believe that there are endless opportunities for the young black man or woman graduating from high school. A look at the overrepresentation of African Americans in the military versus the work place would change the outsider's mind. Another look at the overrepresentation of African Americans in the prison systems versus society would flat out baffle him. While the doors of higher learning institutions are open to all, lackluster funding and secondary education prevent far too many aspirational African Americans from walking through them. We undoubtedly live in a better racial environment than in the 19th Century, but, there is much to be said about the disproportionate numbers of African Americans in government institutions. We must choose enrollment over enlistment.
When African Americans were first allowed to serve in the military in the 19th Century, it was considered a great honor and all individuals who were allowed to enlist took full advantage. These proud soldiers fought not only for 'their' country, but also for eventual freedom of their people. Their heroic acts, however, were not limited to battlefield. When these men returned to their communities, they brought with them their newfound literacy and spread the gift to all those who had a desire to learn. Not only did they teach others to read, but made efforts to financially support educational institutions. In Greensboro, Georgia soldiers of the 175th Battalion of New York Volunteers raised $65 to help purchase land for a school building; that once erected, hosted a solider from that unit as its first teacher. During the late 19th Century, the military offered black men resources that were difficult to obtain from other mediums; sadly, in the 21st Century, the military is still viewed in a similar light. Often times, without the same level of benefits as those experienced by soldiers of 175th Battalion of New York.
The racial progress that has been made since the first black soldiers put on a uniform would lead an outsider to believe that there are endless opportunities for the young black man or woman graduating from high school. A look at the overrepresentation of African Americans in the military versus the work place would change the outsider's mind. Another look at the overrepresentation of African Americans in the prison systems versus society would flat out baffle him. While the doors of higher learning institutions are open to all, lackluster funding and secondary education prevent far too many aspirational African Americans from walking through them. We undoubtedly live in a better racial environment than in the 19th Century, but, there is much to be said about the disproportionate numbers of African Americans in government institutions. We must choose enrollment over enlistment.
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