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The First Black Officers
In 1877, Henry O. Flipper was the first black officer to graduate from West Point Academy. He served in the 10th Cavalry until 1881, when he was discharged under questionable circumstances. Two more academy graduates followed him: John Hanks Alexander, class of 1887, and Charles Young, class of 1889. They were joined by five African American chaplains: Allen Allensworth, Henry V. Plummer, George Prioleau, Theophilus Gould Steward, and William Anderson. Chaplains were military officers that did not lead troops. The black chaplains saw to the spiritual needs of the segregated regiments and taught those soldiers lacking a basic education.
Black officers faced challenges both on the battlefield and at the post. Although the army had an official policy of non-discrimination, it could not guarantee equality or social acceptance. It was not until 1901 that the first black soldiers, Benjamen O. Davis and John E. Green, would break the barrior to rise from the enlisted ranks to commissioned officers, and it would be 45 years after Charles Young graduated from West Point before Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. became the fourth black West Point graduate. |