BlackUSA News

After 246 Years, Marine Corps Gives 4 Stars to a Black Officer

Politics

After 246 Years, Marine Corps Gives 4 Stars to a Black Officer

Published

2 years ago

on

August 7, 2022

By

Doni Glover

Share

WASHINGTON — In the military, there have already been countless promotion ceremonies this year, held on army bases, aircraft carriers and even, in one case, an escarpment overlooking Omaha Beach in Normandy.

But on Saturday there was one for the history books. Gen. Michael E. Langley, 60, became the first Black Marine to receive a fourth star on his shoulder — a landmark achievement in the corps’ 246-year history. With that star, he becomes one of only three four-star generals serving in the Marine Corps — the service’s senior leadership.

In an emotional ceremony at the Marine Barracks in Washington, General Langley, whose next assignment will be to lead United States Africa Command, acknowledged the weight of his promotion. Before Saturday, the Marine Corps had never given four stars to anyone who was not a white man.

Referring to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s order that desegregated the Marine Corps during World War II, General Langley listed a slew of Black Marines who went before him. They included Frank E. Petersen Jr., the first Black man to become a Marine Corps general, and Ronald L. Bailey, the first Black man to command the First Marine Division. Both men topped out at lieutenant general.

General Langley’s promotion has electrified Black Marines. On Thursday, a slew of them ambushed him when he appeared at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia to get new uniforms to take with him to Stuttgart, Germany, where Africa Command is based.

“Wait a minute, wait a minute, sir,” General Langley, in an interview, recalled one star-stuck Black major saying. “I just want to shake your hand.”

Soon, more Marines — Black and white, men and women — were asking to take pictures with the new four-star general.

At Saturday’s ceremony, five officers sat in a row watching the proceedings. They were part of an expeditionary warfare training class at Quantico that the Marine commandant, Gen. David H. Berger, visited on Wednesday. Around 45 minutes into General Berger’s talk to the class, Capt. Rousseau Saintilfort, 34, raised his hand. “How can I be there Saturday?” he asked.

“It didn’t click on me at first because everyone was asking questions about amphibious stuff and tactics, and he asked me about Saturday,” General Berger said at the ceremony, to laughter.

Capt. Ibrahim Diallo, 31, who came up from Quantico with Captain Saintilfort, said in an interview that “all these friends started messaging me, saying, ‘You’re going to be next.’”

“I don’t know if I’m going to stick around that long,” he said, “but just the fact that junior Marines can see this, they will see that no matter what background you come from, you can achieve in the Marine Corps as long as you perform.”

For the Marine Corps, the promotion of General Langley is a step that has been a long time coming. Since the corps began admitting African American troops in 1942, the last military service to do so, fewer than 30 have obtained the rank of general in any form. Not one had made it to the top four-star rank, an honor the Marines have bestowed on 73 white men.

Seven African Americans reached lieutenant general, or three stars. The rest have received one or two stars, a majority in areas from which the Marine Corps does not choose its senior leadership, like logistics, aviation and transport.

General Langley, who oversaw Marine forces on the East Coast in his last posting, has commanded at every level, from platoon to regiment, during his 37-year career. He served overseas in Afghanistan, Somalia and Okinawa, and he has also had several senior staff jobs at the Pentagon and at the military’s Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East.

After a New York Times article in 2020 about the dearth of Black Marine generals, General Berger was asked why the corps had not promoted an African American to its top ranks in its entire history. “The reality of it is: Everybody is really, really, really good,” General Berger said in an interview with Defense One. “For every 10 we pick, every 12, we could pick 30 more — every bit as good.”

General Langley’s promotion is particularly poignant given that his great-uncle was one of the Montford Point Marines, who were the first Black recruits to join the Marine Corps after it began admitting African Americans in 1942. They trained at Montford Point in North Carolina, which was separate from Camp Lejeune, where white recruits trained.

It had taken Roosevelt’s executive order to force the commandant of the Marine Corps at the time, Thomas Holcomb, to open the service to Black men. “If it were a question of having a Marine Corps of 5,000 whites or 250,000 Negroes,” the Marine commandant once said, “I would rather have the whites.”

Now, one of the corps’ three senior leaders says things have changed.

“Mentally we have learned that there’s greater value in the collective than just the monolithic perception of what the makeup of the Marine Corps is,” General Langley said. He said that his hope was that Black Marines would view the corps as a place where they would not be hampered by a glass ceiling.

Read the full article here

Home

Democratic Governors’ Strategies For Winning Their First Election

Published

2 years ago

on

December 7, 2022

By

Robaer Washington

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 7, 2022) –

“I like the noise of democracy.” – James Buchanan

In America, the Democratic party has had tremendous success in recent years when it comes to campaigning to win elections at the Governors’ level. In this post, we will examine five strategies for Democrats seeking the Governor office in a U.S. State. If you are looking to win your first election as a Democratic governor, then you should definitely read this article and learn from these examples.

1. Knock on doors

A vital strategy for Democratic governors is to knock on doors and talk to voters face-to-face. Canvassing allows politicians to get to know their constituents and understand their concerns towards building a connection with the voters, which can be very important in a close election. Knocking on doors can also increase a voters’ confidence in a candidate when it comes to raising campaign funds. PRO TIP: It’s important to have enough money to reach more voters to get your message out. As well, canvassing also assists with building a grassroots campaign. A grassroots campaign is important for politicians as it allows them to connect with voters on a personal level. It’s a good way to garner immediate feedback from voters regarding local concerns.

2. Use social media

Various social media platforms such Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube are a great way to reach out to voters and communicate your message effectively, as well as directly. Democratic governors use these platforms to share photos and videos of themselves meeting with voters and talking about important issues. This helps connect them with voters showing that they are accessible and interested in hearing what the people have to say. Additionally, Democratic governors campaign on their record of service and accomplishments. They talk about the progress they can make in their respective state and how they plan to keep moving forward if elected. This helps voters see that the Democratic governor is someone who gets things done and is looking out for the best interests of the people.

3. Spread your message through ads

A third strategy includes targeting specific groups of voters with advertising. Political ads can be a very effective way to reach out to voters and convince them to support the campaign. Democratic governors use targeted advertising to reach specific groups of voters who are likely to support them. Democratic governors also often have a strong grassroots campaign that helps them connect with voters on a personal level, built on the fabric of this targeted advertising campaign.

4. Hold events

Events are a great way to engage with voters and show them what you stand for. Democratic governors often hold town hall meetings, rallies and fundraisers to connect with voters and raise money for their campaigns. These events give you a chance to show voters what you stand for and what you would do if elected. Make sure to have a good turnout at your events and be sure to spread the word to as many people as possible. Democratic governors also reach out to key constituencies like labor unions and minority groups. They make sure they have a strong support base early on in the campaign so they can win come election day.

5. Get endorsements from key figures

Endorsements from influential people can be very helpful in a gubernatorial election. Democratic governors often seek endorsements from party leaders, celebrities and other high-profile figures. Democratic governors running for their first term in office typically seek endorsements from Democratic Party leaders and high-profile celebrities to booster their visibility and chances of winning. Obtaining the endorsement of a popular figure can help attract media attention and votes.

Politics

Pasadena Black Pages: Kennedy Memorial, Women for Racial Justice, & more!

Published

2 years ago

on

October 3, 2022

By

Doni Glover

Pasadena Black Pages

KENNEDY’S CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY WAS HIGHLIGHTED AT MEMORIAL

The day after Justin Jones was sworn in to replace John Jackson Kennedy as a member of the Pasadena City Council, a memorial service was held at the steps of city hall in honor of the leader who is gone but will never be forgotten.

thumbnail 2022 PPTP Sponsorship Honorees Page 1

JUSTIN JONES CHOSEN TO REPLACE JOHN KENNEDY ON THE CITY COUNCIL

On Thursday evening, the Pasadena City Council, along with Mayor Victor Gordo chose Justin Jones to replace the deceased John Kennedy as a city council member until December, when they will choose the successor for the next two years.

Jones was selected over Brandon Lamar, whom many believe should have won, and Pastor Lucious Smith who didn’t stand a good chance against the two young men regarding policy and views on community growth and development.

FINALISTS SELECTED FOR THE 2023 TOURNAMENT OF ROSES® PARADE

PASADENA, Calif. (September 27, 2022) – Before the final round of interviews, the 28 finalists for the 2023 Royal Court presented by Citizens Business Bank took a group photo on the front steps of Tournament House. Applicants from 33 Pasadena area schools participated in the interview process and seven of the finalists will be named to the 2023 Royal Court on October 3, 2022. The announcement will be live-streamed on the Tournament of Roses YouTube channel beginning at 9 a.m. PST.

CHRIS HOLDEN TO SPEAK AT AAPC’s VIRTUAL MEETING, POLICY IS POWER!

Chris Holden California State Assembly 2012 0o

The African American Parent Coalition is a model coalition of collaborative parents, students, and communities. The AAPC respects and embraces the diverse cultures of our communities facilitate educational equity and improvements in academic outcomes, values varied forms of parent involvement to foster the healthy development of all students, and provides the tools and skills necessary for families to access information to purposefully participate in a rapidly changing world.

MEASURE PCC, PROVIDING AFFORDABLE EDUCATION TO THE SGV

Pasadena City College (PCC) has provided high-quality, affordable college education and career training to local students in the San Gabriel Valley for almost 100 years. Offering a wide range of undergraduate degrees, university-transfer courses, certificate programs, career and technical education, PCC provides affordable access to the education and job training students need to succeed and the skilled workers needed to fuel our local economy.

RACIAL JUSTICE ACT FOR All PASSES CALIFORNIA LEGISLATOR

AB 256, the Racial Justice Act for All, passed its final hurdle in the Legislature and will be sent to Governor Newsom. AB 256 is a follow-up measure to the original Racial Justice Act, AB 2542 (Kalra, Chapter 317, Statutes of 2020), which prohibits the state from seeking or obtaining a criminal conviction, or from imposing a sentence, based upon race, ethnicity, or national origin. In a phased-in approach, AB 256 would allow persons with convictions or judgments prior to January 1, 2021 to petition the court and seek relief if a racial bias violation was proven to be present in their case.

Business

Harvard University Affordable Housing Seminar

Published

2 years ago

on

September 28, 2022

By

Robaer Washington

Mr. Suleiman Alli

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. –

Harvard University is hosting an Affordable Housing seminar titled, ‘Affordable Housing: Principles for Changing Domestic and Global Markets’. The two-day seminar takes place at the Graduate School of Design. Individuals in the fields of development, lending, investment and policymaking, will learn the skills to navigate the affordable housing industry.

One of the attendees will be Mr. Suleiman Alli. Sule, as close associates call him, works in conjunction with a design and construction company, FABHAUS USA INC. Sule’s role is in the Marketing, Sales and Business Development department, for the African market.

The course is led by instructors in the Affordable Housing industry: David Smith, Davina Wood and Sanjana Sidhra. Sule, a Nigerian, with American permanent residency, believes that the information and collaborations obtained via this course will assist him in supporting FABHAUS. FABHAUS’ mission is to design and construct pre-fabricated homes, globally.

For nearly a decade, Sule has been investing time and money into journeying throughout Nigeria in attempts to persuade decision makers, in the African nation, to utilize natural resources to build homes for the growing population. His association with a Nigerian organization, FEDUP, led him to find that much of the problem surrounding housing affordability in the country, was political.

Sule’s vision aligns with the mission of the Harvard University course, in that the course is built for entrepreneurs. Affordable Housing is not only a Warri problem, a Lagos problem or a third world problem; Affordable Housing is a global problem and if it were a disease, it could possibly be likened to a pandemic.

Affordable Housing is a burgeoning industry that will continue to grow. This industry is interdisciplinary, encompassing political science, sociology, economics, government, architecture, engineering, etc.

BlackUSA.News will follow up on this seminar and its’ benefits, upon its completion.