MARADMINS : 015/07
UNCLAS 121516Z JAN 07
CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
MARADMIN 015/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA/MP//
SUBJ/AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH OBSERVANCE 2007//
POC/V. G. ARMOUR/CAPT/CMC MPE/-/TEL:TEL
703-784-9371/TEL:DSN 278-9371 //
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IS CELEBRATED
EACH FEBRUARY TO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE RICH HERITAGE,
ACHIEVEMENTS, AND DIVERSITY THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS BRING TO OUR
SOCIETY. DR. CARTER G. WOODSON, THE FOUNDER OF THE ASSOCIATION
FOR THE STUDY OF AFRO-AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY, ESTABLISHED THE
"NEGRO HISTORY WEEK" IN 1926 AS A MECHANISM FOR EXPLORING THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO SOCIETY. DR. WOODSON CHOSE
THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY TO CORRESPOND WITH THE RESPECTIVE BIRTHDAYS
OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, A FORMER SLAVE AND NOTED ABOLITIONIST, AND
ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHO SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. DURING
AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN 1976, THE WEEK LONG
OBSERVANCE WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
AND WAS CALLED "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" TO PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR
PROGRAMS, OBSERVANCES AND CELEBRATIONS.
2. THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THEME IS "FROM SLAVERY TO
FREEDOM: THE STORY OF AFRICANS IN THE AMERICAS". DURING THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION, BLACKS SERVED IN SMALL NUMBERS IN BOTH THE CONTINENTAL AND
STATE NAVIES AND ARMIES. ACCORDING TO SURVIVING MUSTER AND PAYROLLS,
THERE WERE AT LEAST THREE BLACKS IN THE RANKS OF THE CONTINENTAL MARINES
AND TEN OTHERS WHO SERVED AS MARINES ON SHIPS OF THE CONNECTICUT,
MASSACHUSETTS, AND PENNSYLVANIA NAVIES.
3. THE FIRST RECORDED BLACK MARINE IN THE CONTINENTAL SERVICE WAS JOHN
MARTIN OR "KETO," A SLAVE WHO WAS RECRUITED WITHOUT HIS MASTERS
KNOWLEDGE OR PERMISSION IN APRIL 1776. THE FEW BLACK MEN WHO HAVE BEEN
IDENTIFIED AS MARINES FROM SURVIVING REVOLUTIONARY WAR ROSTERS WERE
PIONEERS AND NOT FOLLOWED BY OTHERS OF THEIR RACE UNTIL 1 JUNE 1942.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MONTFORD POINT, WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS THE THIRD
BOOT CAMP OF THE MARINE CORPS, WAS CREATED SOLELY FOR SEGREGATED
TRAINING OF THE NEGRO MARINES.
4. THROUGHOUT HISTORY, AFRICAN AMERICAN MARINES HAVE ESTABLISHED AN
EXEMPLARY RECORD OF SERVICE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO
THE NATION AND THE CORPS. FROM THE CONTINENTAL SERVICE TO THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR CORPS TODAY, AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE CONTINUALLY
DISPLAYED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LOYALTY, PROFESSIONALISM AND ESPRIT DE
CORPS, ADDING IMMENSELY TO THE LEGACY OF OUR CORPS.
5. IN KEEPING WITH DR. WOODSON'S SPIRIT OF EXPLORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS
OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO SOCIETY, THESE FACTS ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS CAN
BE FOUND IN THE MARINE CORPS' OWN HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION
PUBLICATION, "BLACKS IN THE MARINE CORPS". FROM PRIVATES TO GENERALS,
THE LEGACY OF OUR CORPS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SHAPED IN PART BY DEDICATED
AFRICAN AMERICANS WHOSE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE, EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP,
AND PROFESSIONALISM SERVE AS WORTHY EXAMPLES FOR ALL TO ADMIRE AND
EMULATE.
6. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN
AMERICANS, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN. COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO
CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN OBSERVANCE EVENTS BOTH ON
BASE AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO DEVELOP
LOCAL THEMES FOR USE AT THEIR COMMANDS.//