State marks the 75th anniversary of desegregation in US military
Calling on Massachusetts residents to commit to tackling racial and ethnic disparities, Governor Maura Healey issued a proclamation recognizing this week’s 75th anniversary of the presidential order to desegregate the military.
Healey signed the proclamation in her ceremonial office Monday afternoon, joined by elected officials from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, Veterans’ Services Secretary Jon Santiago, members of the Massachusetts National Guard, Tuskegee Airman Brig. Gen. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse and Patricia Odom, the first female Black recruiter in the state’s National Guard.
“For far too long, people in this country were marginalized and held back; for far too long, people were actually doing work, though not recognized and celebrated ...” Healey said, as she invoked the “imperatives” of diversity and inclusion that she described as the foundation of her administration. “All of you men and women who have served who we honor today represent all of what’s possible.”
“I was reluctant to do this because it’s not protocol,” Woodhouse said of speaking at the event. “But Governor, you’re not protocol. You do the right thing.”
President Harry Truman on July 26, 1948 signed Executive Order 9981 that called for desegregating the US Armed Forces.
“It is essential that there be maintained in the armed services of the United States the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who serve in our country’s defense...” the order stated.
“Integration works — it makes us better, it makes us stronger,” said Representative Bud Williams, chair of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, whose father served in the Navy. “It makes us a leader. It fulfills what the Constitution is supposed to be all about ... The military really is ahead of general society — in terms of advancing in the Navy, and Marines, and Army — than we are in a general society. They’ve done it, they’ve done it the right way.”