African Americans @ MindSay 
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2007 – Gen. George S. Patton, famed commander of the U.S. 3rd Army during World War II, was indebted to the courageous efforts of African-American truck drivers who kept tankers and infantry supplied during Patton's push toward Germany in the fall of 1944. In July 1944, a month after the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, American, British and other allied troops were still battling entrenched German units that were trying to contain them. Then, in August, Patton's tank units broke through enemy lines and began streaking across France toward the border with Germany. Patton's forces, as well as other U.S. units, soon outran their supply lines. A method had to be found to provide food, fuel, ammunition and other supplies to the fast-moving U.S. Army as it pushed the Germans eastward.
The solution, the "Red Ball Express," was formed on Aug. 25, 1944. The express was a truck convoy supply operation that ran 24 hours a day from the Normandy beaches to the front lines. The majority of the drivers who drove for the express were African-Americans.
"Redball" is an old railroad term meaning priority freight. In the first month, the express delivered 290,000 tons of supplies to the front. At its peak, the operation used almost 6,000 vehicles and transported a total of 412,193 tons of supplies.
The "Red Ball Express" was ended in November 1944, as German resistance stiffened and winter began to set in.
The German military suffered irreplaceable losses in manpower and materiel during its retreat from France, which hastened the end of the war in Europe. The Germans launched one last offensive in December 1944, known as "the Battle of the Bulge," but it failed. The war in Europe would end the next spring; after Soviet troops entered Berlin, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler committed suicide. The German government unconditionally surrendered to allied forces on May 7, 1945.
African-Americans made up 75 percent of the truck drivers who kept the "Red Ball" rolling. They also served as vehicle mechanics. The drivers and mechanics often tinkered with the trucks' carburetors to enable them to exceed the vehicles' factory-set speed limit.
"When General Patton said for you to be there, you were there if you had to drive all day and all night. If those trucks broke down, we'd fix them and they'd run again," U.S. Army veteran Tech. Sgt. James D. Rookard once recalled.
Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower complimented "Red Ball Express" drivers in an October 1944 message to the troops.
"The 'Red Ball' line is the lifeline between combat and supply," Eisenhower wrote. "To it falls the tremendous task of getting vital supplies from ports and depots to the combat troops, when and where such supplies are needed, material without which the armies might fail.
"To you drivers and mechanics and your officers, who keep the 'Red Ball' vehicles constantly moving, I wish to express my deep appreciation. You are doing an excellent job."
Years after World War II ended, Eisenhower's son, John S.D. Eisenhower, also paid tribute to the "Red Ball Express" and the African-Americans who had made it possible.
"Without it, the advance across France could not have been made," John Eisenhower observed in his history of the Battle of the Bulge titled, "The Bitter Woods."
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By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
Feb. 1, 2007 – African Americans were grounded in the U.S. military until the establishment in Alabama of a unique combat flight training program that began on the eve of America's entry into World War II. America was drawing nearer to fighting a global war with Axis powers Germany, Italy and Japan, and the U.S. Army Air Corps needed more pilots, bombardiers and navigators, as well as maintenance and other support personnel. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Air Corps to create an all-African American military flying unit.
Roosevelt's wife, Eleanor, is said to have been instrumental in her husband's decision that provided African Americans the opportunity to become military pilots.
The "Tuskegee Experiment" commenced in the spring of 1941 at the then-Tuskegee Institute at Tuskegee, Ala. Capt. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. became the first African American to fly a military aircraft solo as a U.S. Army Air Corps' officer.
On March 7, 1942, the first group of African Americans to graduate from military flight school was inducted into the Air Corps. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, Davis assumed command of 99th Fighter Squadron on August 24, 1942
Almost 1,000 African American pilots were trained at Tuskegee until 1946. About 450 deployed overseas to Europe, and 150 airmen lost their lives in training or in combat.
While serving with the 332nd Fighter Group and its subordinate 99th, 100th, 301st and 302nd Fighter Squadrons, Tuskegee graduates flew more than 15,000 combat sorties during World War II, destroying about 500 enemy aircraft and a destroyer. And, the Tuskegee airmen never lost a bomber to the enemy during allied B-17 and B-24 bomber formation escort duties.
Tuskegee fliers also earned 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 8 Purple Heart Medals and 14 Bronze Star Medals.
The U.S. Army Air Corps became the U.S. Air Force in 1947. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. would continue his military career after the war ended in 1945. In 1954, Davis was promoted to brigadier general, becoming the first African-American general officer in the U.S. Air Force.
Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. was another Tuskegee graduate who would achieve high rank in the Air Force. In September 1975, James became the first African-American officer in the history of the U.S. military to attain four stars, signifying full general rank.
The "Tuskegee Experiment" proved that African-American pilots could fly and fight as well as their white counterparts. And, the Tuskegee pilots' wartime exploits played a key role in President Harry S. Truman's 1948 decision to desegregate the U.S. military, which in turn opened up opportunities for all African Americans.
Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership; and, police and military personnel who have authored books.
Why the hell do we have to wish people a happy Kwanzaa during this time of year?
Every network now has to say, "Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all of our listeners."
Why is Kwanzaa included there? Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday that is celebrated during the holiday season. Kwanzaa is a fabricated holiday with no religion affiliation. There are now Kwanaaneese.
"But Mullows, it's an African holiday."
WRONG.
One of my best friends was born in South Africa and lived there until he was 17. He never heard of Kwanzaa until he came here.
And have you ever met anyone that has ever celebrated it? Serously. I sure haven't.
Because here's the thing, since it's not a religious holiday, it does not get celebrated instead of Christmas or Hanukah. If a black person is Jewish, that black person is going to celebrate, as Adam Sandler put it, those eight crazy nights. And if a black person is Christian, that person is going to celebrate the birth of Christ. Therefore, why does Kwanzaa need to exist?
Well, it actually does have a purpose.
Dr. Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa and the Chair of the Organization Us and The National Association of Kawaida Organizations, actually, honestly, wrote this, which is on the homepage of the official Kwanzaa website:
"The holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people's culture."
Yes, a doctor and double chair actually wrote, "The holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and living cultural tradition..." as if that were an appropriate sentence.
But that's not the point. The point is the message.
According to the website, which is http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org, by the way, a man, not a faith, created Kwanzaa to:
-Reaffirm the communitarian vision and values of African culture and to contribute to its restoration among African peoples in the Diaspora, beginning with Africans in America and expanding to include the world African community.
-Introduce and reinforce the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles and through this, introduce and reaffirm communitarian values and practices which strengthen and celebrate family, community and culture. These seven communitarian African values are: Umoja (Unity), Kuji-chagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
-Serve as a regular communal celebration which reaffirmed and reinforced the bonds between us as a people in the U.S., in the Diaspora and on the African continent, in a word, as a world African community. It was designed to unite and to strengthen African communities.
-Be an act of cultural self-determination, as a self-conscious statement of our own unique cultural truth as an African people. That is to say, it is an important way and expression of being African in a multicultural context.
See, now that is actually really nice. It has absolutely nothing to do with the holiday season, and should thus not be included in the happy holidays talk with Christmas and Hanukka, but it is very nice.
But here's the thing.
Actual Africans, meaning the people who live in Africa, are totally different from black Americans.
I say black Americans because, in my opinion, as a small white guy might I add, that is exactly what they are.
Yes, maybe they're great ancestors came from Africa, but the people who were born in America, and whose parents were born in America, are just Americans.
How can I possibly say this? Because that friend I mentioned from South Africa is an African-American. When he first met a black guy who called himself African-American, my friend said, "Oh, what part of Africa are you from?" The guy responded, "Huh? I'm from Chicago."
This was offensive to my friend. This guy from Chicago is not African-American. He is American. When Dr. Karenga writes that Kwanzaa is to "reflect the best of African thought and practice" is he taking into account that the way most Americans live is not anything like African thought and practice?
There isn't a holiday to "serve as a regular communal celebration which reaffirmed and reinforced the bonds between us as a people in the U.S., in the Italian country, in a word, as a world Italian community." Why? Because real Italians that hear Americans call spagetti and marinara sauce "macaroni and gravy" think they are are "stupid Americans." Real Italians don't think Americans and them are one in the same. They think that they believe and behave very, very differently from Americans, even if those Americans can consider themselves Italian-Americans.
There is no Irish holiday to celebrate how Americans with Irish ancestors are the same people as those who currently live in Ireland. Or how the Japanese guy who lives in the nice house next to you is exactly the same as the Japanese fisherman living on a houseboat in Japan. Why? Because they are nothing alike. Their cultures are totally different in every possible way. The only thing that is similar about them is that their great, great ancestors came from the same country. But now one is Japanese and one is American.
And still, all that being said, I understand a black American's desire to be familiar with his or her roots. I understand the need to feel connected to Africa. Even though the poor starving children with AIDS who are suffering in Africa probably feel no connection to you whatsoever, I understand you wanting to feel a connection to them.
And therefore, I think the principles of Kwanzaa are actually quite wonderful.
But it is not an alternative to Christmas or Hanukah. I'm sorry but it just isn't. If you are a black person and you were baptized and you regularly attend church, then you should be (and most likely are) celebrating Christmas.
So how did it happen that we have to say Happy Kwanzaa as if it were the same type of holiday as Christmas and Hanakuh, except that it was celebrated by those who practice the Kwanzni religion?
No such religion exists, and the holiday should not be treated as if it does.
... right up and bulging out my skull....
So... anyone know who died today? Rosa Parks. Ain't that a bitch. She outlived her kid by 40some years.
Today was good.
Chemistry- watched presentations
US History- reviewed for Revolutionary War Test
Poetry- Discussed two poems
Earth Science- Notes
Fashion Designed- threaded machines and did our bobbins
Word and Powerpoint: Worked on my resume/cover letter/ reference page
Internship: Went to marketing at the hospital, which was basically their public relations chick who was pretty nice.
Then Chelsea came over to get help with studying for the US History test. Her mom said she'd pay me to help her out with US history. I told her to get the money and keep it for herself. She said she'll keep half and give half to me. She seems hella nice - we should start doing stuff.
I ought to go study - rawr.