This probably won’t get published or mentioned by you, but I have to say it.
Today I watched the History Channel program: African Americans on D-Day. Honestly, I cried. How could anyone not cry for the Black souls lost in that war and what they had to endure in their segregated battles. They were ill-trained, ill-equipped and almost left to their own means of survival. In the midst of all this death and dying, they were barred from the NCO’ and referred to as *niggers, belittled and degraded. *Attempts are underway to erase this word from History. There is no eraser large enough to erase the indignities of the past. We have to leave them there to remind us that they are not to be repeated.
These men knew full well that they had left a segregated country, entered a segregated war, died a segregated death and would eventually, if they survived, return to that same segregated society.
The German soldier prisoners could enter places they could not, in this country. The indignities they endured, is a shame that America will wear for the rest of this country’s endurance. They came back and went on with their lives and deliberately made the effort of not hating white America for its brutality. My father and eight uncles were among that group. The only thing they ever said about the War is: “It was horrible. They treated us as less than men, even as we were saving their lives.”
It cannot, should not be dismissed as: ‘That’s just the way it was in those days.” I cannot accept this dismissal. My brave men lost their lives on those blood stained fields and they should be honored for it. If they are no longer here, thier families should receive their recognition.
Today, sixty plus years later, we have a Qualified Black man running for president of this Great Nation, and still he is being fought against in favor of a white woman seeking the glory of being the first woman to be elected to the White House. This is statement is not a racist statement. Under ordinary circumstances, I might would support Hillary. She is smart and knows how to work the system. This circumstance is not ordinary.
I am not advocating to elect anyone on the basis of race alone. However, this man is qualified and he deserves just as much a chance as do all the others. Can he do worse than the present administration? I think not. If I am wrong, let History record that fact.
However, it is getting a little stale that Blacks have to fight three times as hard as any other race to achieve anything. Why? Is it because we have been brainwashed that we are not as capable as white Americans? That we are a sub-culture? Could that be why so many of the ‘elite’ blacks have decided to support Hillary? Are they afraid that they would lose their status among whites if they are wrong about Barack? But, didn’t we go through this same thing with Dr. King who sought to end segregation in America?
THIS MADNESS HAS GOT TO STOP. Personally, I’m tired of having to prove myself, having to tailor my writings so that it will be acceptable to the masses. I’m tired of seeing my History dragged out each February and put on display. Why isn’t it taught in the schools as a part of American History? It is, you know. Our young people of today have no idea what their History consists of, other than slavery and the Civil Rights Movement. Still, many of them do not know the enormity of it all. They do not know of the brave acts, deeds and contributions many of their own families made toward the furtherance of this Country. Is this by design?
There is so much more I could say, but I won’t. Why? Because I am angry about the indignities of all the brave Black soldiers of all the previous wars, who never received recognition; only received half the pay of white soldiers and are still struggling to be accepted by the masses and I don’t want to speak out of context.
Thank you.
Etha Gray
Author, Playwright.
