Depot Marines reflect on American black history

7 Feb 2003 | Cpl. Alisha R. Fitzgerald Marine Corps Training and Education Command

"Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise, I rise, I rise."
- Maya Angelou, "Still I rise," And Still I Rise
Americans began celebrating black history in February 1926 with Negro History Week, which later became Black History Month.
Many Americans today are unaware that, when the tradition originated, black history was still excluded from textbooks. There was no documentation of it at all. Despite having been in America since at least colonial times, blacks did not gain the recognition they deserved in history until the 20th century.
"Most Americans view black history and American history as two separate things," said Cpl. Darius King, multi-media specialist, Marketing Public Affairs, 6th Marine Corps District. "What they don't seem to understand is that they are one and the same. Hopefully, one day, all Americans will see that black history is American history."
Americans have Dr. Carter G. Woodson to thank for the eventual celebration of Black History Month, along with the study of black history. Woodson was born to former slaves and eventually went on to get his Ph.D. from Harvard. During his studies, he was frustrated to find most history books had virtually ignored black Americans altogether. He found that any time they were mentioned at all, they were usually referred to as inferior from the social status they held at the time.
"Black History Month is a time for us to reflect on the African Americans who have gone on before us and laid down a solid foundation for a life for us to live, a way of politically and socially conducting ourselves in our struggle," said Staff Sgt. Edward Parsons, senior drill instructor, Plt. 3029, India Co., 3rd RTBn. "This time serves as a means for us to embrace our heritage, our deep-rooted heritage, and what our people have done in America."
Although African Americans have participated in every major U.S. war, the battle for integration and for recognition of the accomplishments of black soldiers has been a slow process. It wasn't until after World War II that the U.S. Armed Forces became integrated, under a 1948 executive order by President Harry S. Truman. Since then, credit to blacks in the military has gradually been awarded where due and where long overdue.
On Aug. 18, 1942, Headquarters and Service Battery of the 51st Composite Defense Battalion was activated at Montford Point. The first African-American Marine Corps recruit to arrive at the camp was Howard P. Perry of Charlotte, N.C. He arrived Aug. 26, and was later joined by 119 other privates who began recruit training in September.
Over the next two years, Montford Point would be the training site for the 51st and 52nd Defense Battalions. From July 1942, through the end of the war, 20,000 black men were trained at Montford Point and inducted into the Marine Corps. In those days, however, integration was a relative term. Though black troops would train and be Marines, they would still be kept separate from the white troops at nearby Camp Lejeune. Unless accompanied by a white Marine, they were not allowed to set foot on Camp Lejeune. After they were shipped off to battle zones, they served exclusively in all-black units.
"Being a black American and a Marine definitely holds special meaning for me," said Parsons, who is also a member of the Depot chapter of the Montford Point Marines Association. "Being a member of the Montford Point Marine Association, I had the opportunity to meet one of the original Montford Point Marines, who shared a story with me about how they had white drill instructors and white officers at first. It slowly changed. To be a drill instructor here now, regardless of race, creed or color, I feel honored and privileged. Sometimes, when I'm driving down the causeway, it just captivates my mind to think that 20 years ago we weren't even here."
According to the 2002 Marine Corps Almanac, there are 24,502 enlisted black Marines today, approximately 16 percent of the entire enlisted force.
The Tri-Command Martin Luther King Jr./Black History Month Committee has planned a gospel extravaganza Sunday, 5-7 p.m., in the auditorium of Naval Hospital Beaufort.  The extravaganza will feature several choirs and soloists from the Beaufort community. It is open to the public and admission is free.
A luncheon is also scheduled for Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. at NHB's Heritage Club.  The guest speaker is Capt. Hamartyrah Tharpe, 3rd RTBn.  Tickets are $7 and will include a menu of baked/fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, white rice, corn, collard greens, peach cobbler and iced tea. Everyone is invited to attend. 
For more information, call Cynthia Golson at 228-2647.

Marine Corps Training and Education Command