Military faces challenges to achieve equality

Edward DuBose, NAACP chair, Armed Services & Veterans Affairs Committee, recently sent the following to members of NAACP:

It was July 26, 1948 when President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 establishing the President’s Committee on Equality of Treatment and Opportunity in the Armed Services, committing the United States government to integrate the segregated Military.

Today, our military still faces challenges:

• In 1984, 2% of Air Force pilots were Black; nearly 40 years later, we are still at 2%. (apnews.com)

• Black veterans still struggle to achieve economic equity compared with white civilians and veterans on such indicators as annual income and need for food assistance. (rand.org)

• Black veterans have higher odds than Black civilians of experiencing chronic pain, high-impact pain, hypertension, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, and work-related limitations. (rand.org)

• In fiscal year 2023, 84.8% of all Black veterans who applied for physical or mental health benefits were given assistance by the VA, compared to 89.4% of their white counterparts who applied. (Dept. Veterans Affairs)

• 33.1% of Veterans experiencing homelessness are Black, compared with 12.3% of the general Veteran population. (National Alliance to End Homelessness)

• Blacks are underrepresented at the highest military leadership levels.

• VA data shows that, from 2002 to 2020, nearly 30% of disability claims filed by Black veterans were denied when compared with a 24.2% rejection rate for those filed by white veterans.

The NAACP continues the fight to protect our Military! In recognition of the 75th Anniversary of Executive Order 9981, the NAACP and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Minority Affairs, Center for Minority Affairs, signed a Memorandum of Agreement which sets forth a structure in which both entities will work in a mutually beneficial manner to advance and improve the quality of life for all our nation’s veterans including minority veterans.

On Veterans Day we honor all the veterans who risked their lives in the cause of freedom. NAACP Cedar Rapids works with veterans who need information about their rights, a referral for assistance, or feel they have been discriminated against. You may contact our office by emailing us at naacpcr4013@gmail.com or calling our office at 319 449-4397.

If you would like to join us in working on behalf of veterans, we welcome all veterans and their allies. Finally, if you are a veteran (or family member) feeling hopeless or suicidal, please contact the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7 at 988, then press 1.

Edward DuBose, NAACP chair, Armed Services & Veterans Affairs Committee. Dedric Doolin is president, NAACP Cedar Rapids.