During World War 1 & the beginning days of World War 2 Black Americans were only considered for the most menial of duties in this nation’s armed forces. Our black ancestors were considered incapable of being effective soldiers only hired help to work kitchen and latrine duties. As a matter of fact, white military leaders considered every black enlisted soldier inferior mentally, due no respect by his fellow white soldiers. Many even considered black soldiers cowardly, capable of turning and running at the first sign of a battle. Then December 7, 1941 happened, on this Sunday morning at Pearl Harbor, Doris "Dorie" Miller proved those white bigoted officers, soldiers, and sailors wrong.

Spend a just a few moments reliving that day when Messman Miller delivered a courageous effort to save his shipmates and his commanding officer from harm from the surprise Japanese attack that day. Dorie Miller didn’t run from the battle that was taking shape, Dorie Miller ran towards the battle to aid and defend this country’s honor. After attempting to save the ship’s commander and facing insurmountable odds, Dorie Miller took action and when above the call of duty to strike against the Japanese invaders.

Dorie Miller took down a few of the Japanese enemy who may have discounted him and every black soldier as well. Dorie Miller didn’t have the anchor insignia of a seaman on his arms because the white man’s Navy didn’t allow that but he didn’t let that bother him that morning 80 years ago today. Now tell where is this brother's Medal of Honor? Why isn’t there a statue of Dorie Miller on this nation’s lawns showing this brother manning that weapon taking down Japanese planes that were attacking America on December 7, 194. Dorie Miller did get a medal for his bravery but it was back down in the ship’s kitchen for this brother. Why? Because Dorie”Doris Miller” was a black man and no matter how much bravery he exhibited on that fateful Sunday morning 80 years ago today. Dorie Miller couldn’t run away from that fact and the white man’s Navy wouldn’t allow him to runaway from that reality either.

Doris “Dorie” Miller’s life ended when he was killed when the battleship he was stationed on the Liscome Bay was sunk by a Japanese torpedo in 1943. There was no momentous honor and celebration awaiting Dorie Miller’s body because Dorie Miller’s body was presumed lost at sea. For all his gallantry Doris “Dorie” Miller would probably be just another dead negro in the eyes of many White Americans who were shielded from now his actions that Sunday morning if not for a movie, Pearl Harbor, that finally gave Dorie Miller his due 2 decades ago. Now is the time for the nation to give Doris Miller his just due and award him the Medal of Honor for his heroic act on December 7, 1941. He’s been waiting 80 years for that reward and Doris “Dorie” Miller need not wait another year for recognition of his supreme acts of bravery that occurred 80 years ago today.

Today on the 162nd anniversary of John Brown’s death on the gallows December 2, 1859. I will read aloud an essay written by Yale Professor David W. Blight that connects some of the dots in the relationship between John Brown and Frederick Douglass. I understand the importance and the magnitude of John Brown’s failed raid on the Federal Armory On October 16, 1859, as it relates to the searing hatred that was at the core of our nation’s division and eventually lead to the Civil War. John Brown was depicted in the history books as a crazed white man totally out of control, totally out of his senses, who had no touch of reality. Because John Brown’s reality included racial equality for black men and women. John Brown sacrificed so much to end the evils of slavery. He was willing not only to pay the ultimate price personally but he also convinced his sons to join this righteous battle. John Brown must be given his full due because he saw evil and willingly paid the ultimate price to see that evil erased. Frederick Douglass may not have agreed with his methods but understood the need for a violent uprising to end the evil system of American Slavery.

"Cose I was borned a slave, but I don't 'member much 'bout hit, 'caze I was li'l.

Yes, Henry Barnes remembers little of being enslaved other than being enslaved. He remembers little or none of the oppression and terror of enslavement because he was a child. However, rest assured Henry Barnes was surrounded by many who experienced firsthand the awful conditions of bondage.