MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego -- The Bay View Restaurant hosted the 2011 Umoja Ball Feb. 19, at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. The event celebrates and brings attention to Black History Month.
The Umoja Ball started in 1995 but was discontinued in 2003 due to new security policies regarding civilians coming aboard military installations after 9/11. This is the first year back, and Gloria Pettis, budget analysis, 12th Marine Corps District and ball organizer, had to essentially start from scratch, she said.
Umoja means unity in Swahili, and was chosen as the name of the ball to celebrate everyone coming together. The ball attracted approximately 100 guests, and although this year there were more civilians than service members, Pettis hopes to balance that out in the years to come.
Most of the people who attended the ball from 1995 to 2003 had retired from the Marine Corps or moved away, so they had to be tracked down to be informed of its reopening, said Pettis.
Marine Corps Community Services aided Pettis in advertising by printing flyers and tickets, as well as posting information on their Web site. Pettis went to nearby military bases as well as black churches and supporting businesses to personally invite guests to the ball.
Included in the price of a ticket was dinner and dancing. Entertainment included The Reggie Smith Smooth Jazz Band, which provided jazz and historical black music; and disc jockey DJ Stretch, who finished out the night playing dance music.
Guest speaker for the event was Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, commanding general, MCRD and the Western Recruiting Region. Also in attendance were representatives from the Montford Point Marines Association, a veteran’s organization that was established to perpetuate the legacy of the first blacks who entered the United States Marine Corps from 1942 to 1949, at Montford Point Camp, New River, N. C.
The first black Marines underwent basic training at the Montford Point Base adjacent to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and continued to train there until 1949. In the Bay View Restaurant, traditional black historical artwork was displayed, as well as pictures of influential black leaders with short biographies.
The ball was a way to educate guests on the positive aspects of the progress made in equality in the Corps and in America. It also served as a morale booster for Marines who attended the event, said Pettis.