By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, mgreen@afro.com
Since its founding in 1802, West Point has been known for its prestige, not its diversity; however 217 years since the university’s doors opened, the esteemed military academy will graduate its largest class of African American women in the school’s history.
When 34 Black women receive their degrees this weekend, they will not only be holding the weight of a distinguished degree, but of the knowledge that the ability to do such was a long time coming.
This weekend 34 Black women will graduate from the United States Military Academy West Point, making for the largest class of African-American women in the school’s 217 year history. (Cadet Hallie H. Pound/U.S. Army via AP)
According to “CBS News,” West Point did not graduate its first Black cadet, Henry O. Flipper, until 1877. It would be almost over 100 years later that West Point graduated its first class with women, which was in 1980. Pat Locke was the first African American woman to graduate West Point. She has been a constant mentor, providing encouragement throughout her time at the military academy, Locke told “Inside Edition” in a May 20 article.
Photos of the 34 Black women graduating in West Point’s 2019 cohort are going viral, as many are revelling in the fact that so many females of color are getting degrees from a place that did not want them to attend their institution until recent history.
“My hope when young Black girls see these photos is that they understand that regardless of what life presents you, you have the ability and fortitude to be a force to be reckoned with,” cadet Tiffany Welch-Baker told Because of Them We Can.
“We’re gonna be going out and having to solve complex problems. And so that’s gonna take creative solutions,” Gabrielle Alford told CBS News. “It really helps if you can look up to a leader who looks like you who comes from the same background as you.”
Other military leaders are excited about the diversity coming out of this year’s West Point graduating class.
“We don’t want everybody in the Army to look like me,” First Captain David Bindon told CBS This Morning national correspondent Jerika Duncan. “For me, working with people who don’t look like me brings different perspectives to my approach to problems. And that helps me solve problems better.”
