JET MAGAZINE - JULY 1976

In January of 1975 Ebony publishes a story about four midshipmen from the Class of 1975 who were elected as the class officers (see the earlier post  Four at the Helm posted in May 2017).  This was the first and only time in the history of the Naval Academy.  These African American Midshipman were pioneers that laid the foundation of removing 100 + years of sub racial discrimination until finally the Class of 1976 was able to break the barrier and open the floodgates for more African American men and women beginning with the first women to enter in the summer of 1976.  In July Jet Magazine publishes another article seen below from page 13 above Booker T. Washington another African American of distinction and a recipient of the first honorary degree ever given to a Black by Harvard University, a Masters of Art degree.  He was dubbed unofficially as the Secretary of Negro Affairs from 1895 till 1915.

This might have gone viral if this had happened today.  I am thankful that my classmates in the 17th Company and the rest of the brigade did not tolerate racial discrimination acts and many took action to serve justice where needed.  There is another reason of why it is a good thing that technology was not available to spread viral events but for that information you will have to read "Chasing the Colors" Chapter 10 of Annapolis Creed.

​~Annapolis Creed