I-Day 1972 will remind all those who have experienced being outfitted with their first uniforms of the changes their bodies underwent during their Academy experience.

​Life at the Annapolis (Extract from the book "Annapolis Creed")

"It would have been impossible to predict what would happen during the next four years. I will share with you an insider's look and description entirely different from the scenes in the movie “Annapolis.”  Honestly, this film was nothing like being a midshipman at Annapolis since it focused only on the Brigade boxing championship.  Being a midshipman at Annapolis for the majority of Black men in 1972-1976 presented many different challenges.  Annapolis had its own philosophy, climate, and culture.  Only after you’ve experienced the grueling rigors of Plebe Summer, and after you have faced the responsibility of leading other midshipmen and after you have thrown your hat into the air at graduation will you really know what the Naval Academy experience is all about.  Make no mistake: my four years at Annapolis were very challenging, firmly structured, and designed to drive myself well beyond my perceived limits.  I had lived in Saint Louis, Missouri my entire life.  I had never been on a road trip out of Missouri, and the trip to Annapolis by car was an experience.  So in June 1976 my dad, mom, and my brother drive to Annapolis.  I did not know it at the time, but the person who was really scared was my mom, but I did not know exactly why till much later. Maybe she already knew the history of the Naval Academy and the fate of the first six African American men who entered the gates of Annapolis. Five of the six would leave after resigning for undisclosed reasons falsely noted as academically deficient and one would graduate after 105 years" (Smith, 2017).

"I had never been to a military base before, and I got my first look at a United States Marine carrying a .45 caliber revolver as we approached the main gate.  There were no salutes just a quick checking of driver’s license and a copy of my orders were viewed by the gate sentry. There were hundreds of people on the campus.  The first thing I noticed that the campus was surrounded by water.  I made no connection to the water and why swimming would determine how I spent my next six months due to an event scheduled for me the first day of training.  When we got out of the car, there were escorts dressed in the white Navy uniforms.  My dad loved everyone calling him “Sir.”  In 1972 no African American was called "Sir" by someone who was white.  These Navy Midshipmen seemed like a replica of the Stepford Wives Club” but in uniform.  All the men in uniforms were built the same and wore their uniforms exactly the same way.  My dad had traveled nearly 840 miles and 13 hours to deliver a $600 check for my uniforms.  The rest of my education was paid for by the United States government and the sweat equity of my mind and body" (Smith, 2017).

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