Why Should We Honour Veterans Essay

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This paper explores the history of events related to the experience of African American veterans’ rights leading up to today. The earliest African American veteran involvement in the U.S. Military will be covered dating back to the Revolutionary War. The challenges veterans faced during World War 2, leading up to the Civil Rights Movement will be surveyed. Furthermore, this paper delves into the African American veteran’s experience with Jim Crow statutory laws the G.I. Bill along employment challenges. In addition, attention will be brought to the obstacles veterans face today such as homelessness and PTSD.

Policy Paper

African Americans’ struggle for equality in the armed forces stems back to the inception of the United States in 1776. African Americans have fought in every war that America has waged domestically and foreign. However, the treatment of African Americans has been dishonorable, when compared to their white counterparts’ rights, and benefits. Some of the hurdles black veterans had to overcome were the Jim Crow discriminatory laws, and equality within their American civil rights. African American veterans began to gain rights in the armed forces by way of amended policies and protesting from the African American body nationwide. Despite the long journey to gain equality in the United States military; African American veterans still suffer today from socioeconomic and mental issues.

First African American veterans’ rights

African Americans have fought for the conquest of America as slaves and also as freedmen. Since the origin of the United States, blacks were considered a commodity for the nation and used as a labor force for the production of wealth. By 1775 Americans had more than a half-million of African Americans who mostly lived in the 13 colonies of America. Given that African Americans were the property of the nation; in 1776 during a time of civil unrest the United States recognized that black bodies could be used for military mobilization, and not just as slaves. The United States used the idea of freedom as leverage for blacks to encourage them to fight in the American Revolution and the Civil War. This promise America made to African Americans was left in vain, blacks returned home to the same predicament they were trying to free themselves of. While being slaves in the armed forces, black veterans did gain some traction in military rights. During the earliest American wars, a continental congressional meeting took place in response to wounded veterans. Pensions were allocated for non-commissioned and commissioned veterans who were maimed in battle. Many maimed soldiers were returning home with no provisions for them. America passed the Act of 1790 which provided pensions and care for veterans (Social Welfare Library). The pensions given to injured officers and enlisted servicemen had limitations provided by the President. The pensions were not to exceed the pay of commissioned officers and it allocated $5 a month for other servicemen such as volunteer troops. The Act of July 14th, 1862 provided additional pensions for all enlistment men and officers who had contracted diseases while serving in the United States or the line of duty elsewhere (Social Welfare Library).

African Americans showed how effective they were during the Revolutionary War and Civil. The African Americans who fought in these wars were not freedmen. Soon the United States entertained the idea of rights to be drafted, as well as granting them the right to be freedmen. First, the Militia Act was established in 1862 which gave blacks the right to fight in state militia wars, then eventually America’s federal wars (VA History). The Conscription Act of 1863 was the ultimate push for African Americans to be drafted and fight in the United States armed forces. By the year 1865, President Abraham Lincoln passed the Emaciation Proclamation finally granting all African Americans freedom, and the abolishment of slavery (VA History). After President Lincoln passed the 13th Amendment, enlistment rates in the armed forces increased. One year after the war of 1865, the population of veterans rose to 1.9 million. From the years of 1861-1865 over 200,000 African Americans many of them former slaves served in the Civil War. Gaining freedom in America not only opened the door to black progress, but it also revealed the fear of a free African American population amongst whites. America began to showcase its resentment of African Americans and American veterans through the policies the government began to pass.

Jim Crow Era

After the Emancipation Proclamation, the United States became fearful of freed slaves in all aspects of American society. Whites were afraid of blacks taking their jobs and becoming a prominent minority using skills and trade. America began to make laws that were beyond discriminatory to the African American population such as the Jim Crow segregation laws in 1877 (Ferris Edu). Along with Jim Crow, the Slaughterhouse cases brought about great resistance to the black struggle. African Americans fought for the freedoms and rights of all Americans without the implication of race. Black veterans believed they deserved nothing but the equal treatment that should be granted to them under the United States Constitution. While serving abroad black veterans had to be housed in separate units from the white soldiers. Black veterans were often led by racist military leaders. The black soldiers were called on first to tackle dangerous situations in battle. The discrimination was so bad that President Roosevelt took charge to help the experience of the black veterans. On June 25, 1941, President Roosevelt enacted Executive Order 8802 which eradicated discrimination in the United States Defense industry, as well as trying to rid of it in federal employment occupations overall (Executive Order 8802). This was a small victory for African American veterans and was known as the Second Emancipation Proclamation.

Education

There was progress made in the United States armed forces surrounding African American veterans during World War 2. Up to a million, African Americans joined the military during World War 2, and most of them served as draftees and volunteers (Progressive 2017). While deployed in other countries like France and Britain, the experience of African American veterans was a pleasant one. The people of these countries looked at black veterans as normal people serving abroad. Nevertheless, in American, the perception of African American veterans in the public eye was quite different. Returning African American veterans were met with nothing but racism and prejudice, enforced by the government and the agencies that wield its power. The problems that regular black citizens had extended to black veterans. Most of the lynching in the United States came after the abolishment of slavery. Black veterans had to endure segregated schools and other public institutions. Blacks were mostly affected by the discrimination they faced in the areas of employment and education.

As a reward for the courage and honor veterans displayed on the battlefield; the United States gave returning servicemembers many benefits. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen Adjustment Act of 1944 to provide veterans with benefits returning home after World War 2. The adjustment provided veterans with low mortgage rates, vocational training, payments for tuition, and housing expenses for veterans wanting to go to college (G.I Bill). In addition, the Act of 1944 gave servicemen low-interest-rate loans for veterans who wanted to start up a business (American Experience Edu.). The Act of 1944 was provided to all veterans including those who were honorably discharged with 120 or more days of active duty. The goal of this enactment was to help returning veterans reach their goals and accumulate long-term wealth. Many black veterans were denied these services provided to them during the Jim Crow Era. They were denied loans to start a business or to buy a home, even the loan applications turned in to governmental loan agencies were denied. Many veterans took advantage of the home loan discount, and the emergence of the suburban communities and the factory jobs surrounding them attracted many veterans. In 1947 forty-nine percent of college admissions were veterans; of that forty-nine percent, none of them were black veterans. Black veterans were restricted to private and public schools because of schools denying enrollment. Historically black colleges were the only options left for African American veterans and regular citizens. The historically black colleges in the South were already overpopulated because of the scarce school choice.

Employment

The denial of education left many African American veterans in complete despair. Without the many benefits veterans received after World War 2, black veterans were left with menial jobs to support themselves. The wages of the jobs that blacks were allowed to work were decreased during the Jim Crow Era. To support the war many industries hired black people for decent wages. After the war and into Jim Crow, many companies reduced the wages to the positions that most black people held. Under the G.I. Bill unemployment was entitled to veterans. Many black veterans turned down the low-wage jobs that were available to them at that time. As a result, they applied for the unemployment benefit under the G.I. Bill. One of the requirements of the unemployment part of the bill is to accept work opportunities if offered. When the Veterans Administration (VA) was notified about blacks denying employment opportunities, their unemployment benefits were terminated leaving them without any source of income (American Experience Edu.).

Civil Rights Movement

The civil rights movement is a historical marker for African American veterans and regular citizens. This act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 2, 1964, prohibited discrimination in public areas, it enabled the integration of schools and other public establishments, and made discrimination illegal in the workplace. This bill was the most important civil rights legislation for the progression of African Americans during the 19th century. African American veterans took charge in support of the Civil Rights Movement stateside and overseas. President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 8802 kickstarted the race for quality among military branches. However, President Harry S. Truman’s Executive Order 9981 abolished discrimination based on race, color, religious preference, and country of origin (Executive Order 9981). The Civil Rights Act brought about almost a full circle for the fight for the rights of African Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson tackled three areas: education, social segregation, and voting rights. Furthermore, the act ensured blacks could thrive socially, economically, and politically. Before the Civil Rights Act, blacks were not given full citizenship rights. Returning black veterans were determined to receive full citizenship and the perks that come with it. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 removed the barriers African American veterans faced with the use of the G.I. Bill. Black veterans could now go to integrated schools of their choice, as well as receive governmental loans for entrepreneurial ventures. Essentially, black veterans could now thrive in any field they choose in the military and on the civilian side.

Along with the civil rights bill came the Voting Rights Act one year later. To black veterans and black American citizens, the right to vote was one important stride that was necessary to take toward equality. This Voting Rights Act was passed into legislation on August 6, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It eliminated the discriminatory voting practices done by many southern states, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting (Peniel 2006). African American veterans having the right to vote gives them political power. Because of the Voting Rights Act, black veterans’ voices can be heard in amongst the military ranks and on the civilian side. Despite the lengths black veterans and black people, in general, have gone there are still issues to deal with today. Black veterans still suffer from a host of problems today such as mental issues, homelessness, and unemployment. These are just some of the issues that are overlooked in today’s society.

Veterans Today

Population

Today, African Americans enlist in the military in increasing numbers yearly. In 2014, a higher percentage of minority Veterans were African American compared to non-African American Veterans (52.0 percent compared with 32.0 percent) (VA Minority Report). The retention rate among African American veterans is projected to continue to rise. The two largest groups of the armed forces are Hispanic and African American veterans, this group will experience the largest growth of 7.4 and 3.3 percentage points from 2014 to 2043 (VA Minority Report). This pays tribute to the laws passed in search of a better but equal military for the minority population. The majority of the veteran population consists of male veterans which makes up 91.8 percent of the military. Of that 91.8 percent, male veterans are likely to be non-minority which makes up 79.4 percent of the military. Most of the female veterans in the military are minorities with a percentage of 24.5 percent (VA Minority Report).

PSTD

After the passing of the Voting Rights Act, veterans are on an equal playing field when it comes to African American veterans’ rights. The disparities reveal themselves after veterans fulfill their contracts and finally come home. Black veterans are disproportionally affected by the silent scars of war such as PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined as an anxiety disorder that can happen after the veteran experiences any significant traumatic occurrence not just in war but in normal life tragedies as well. During an event like PTSD, the veteran can experience paranoia, insomnia, agitation, and more. The victim may feel afraid and emotionally detach themselves from loved ones. During an episode, the veteran is very fragile and vulnerable to the environment they are in. The Veteran Administration has found that certain groups of veterans such as African Americans and Hispanics have an increased chance to develop PTSD more often than White veterans (VA Minority Report).

Homelessness

Veterans experience homelessness because of many reasons including lack of employment, psychiatry help, and health reasons. The challenge for the government is addressing the increase in the population of homeless veterans; to ensure that homeless veterans receive the best outcome regardless of what health complications they suffer from. The minority veteran population is growing, and more veterans wish to use the benefits that the Veteran Administration provides, giving veterans more resources. The VA needs to address the obstacles that minority veterans face today. The homeless veteran population lacks information about VA benefits that are provided for them.

Only 20.7 percent of the total U.S. Veteran population is part of a racial minority group, and nearly half 36.6 percent of sheltered Veterans in the United States are in minority groups (Minority Report). Veterans using Housing facilities were 3.3 times more likely to be African American veterans overall compared to the rest of veterans with 38.2 percent to 11.1 percent in 2016 (VA Pit Count). Most of the veterans who are homeless live in urban cities, and only a small percentage of sheltered veterans live in rural areas. To prevent homelessness in American it is important to pay close attention to the issues that put veterans in the predicament they end up in. It is important to pay attention to who is at risk of becoming homeless and prevent the problem before it even starts to develop. This effort needs to be enforced by the government on all levels including city, state, and federal. Through the implementation of policies, the veteran homeless population can slowly be decreased by a small percentage every year.

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