| African American Generals Ask America
To Remember |
In the mid-90's, Norma Adams-Wade of the "Dallas
Morning News" wrote several aricles about different "Coming Home To
America's Roots" events in Texas. These stories caught the attention
of Major General Hugh Robinson, a former West Point Regimental Commander,
and now a Dallas builder. He was familiar with black western history
and agreed that it was vital for all Americans to know their shared heritage.
In 1998 he became the convener of the "Generals'
Call". This historic document said "It is crucial to the racial healing
of our society that our nation's black western heroes be restored to history.
All black Americans must know that we share our nation's western heritage.
All white Americans must know that building our nation was a multi-racial
victory."
The "Call" continued, "Eliminating this African
American heritage has deprived generations of black men and women of the
pride they could pass on to their children and the heroes who could be
their role models. It has, also, misled America into believing that
settling the West was a white-only venture".
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| "HOLE IN HISTORY MUST BE FILLED" |
General Colin Powell, former chairman of the
Joint Chief of Staff, has described America's forgotten black heritage
as "a hole in history that must be filled".
The "Generals' Call" urged all Americans to
help fill this "hole in history". It asked writers, producers and
artist to create books, films and art around these black heroes of the
Old West. It called on all schools and parents to teach this shared
heritage to America's children. It concluded..."We call on All Americans
to come home to America's roots".
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| COLIN POWELL FIRST CO-SIGNER |
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General Colin Powell was the first co-signer
of the "Generals' Call". It was unveiled, by five African American
Generals, at a Dallas City Hall ceremony opened by Call convener General
Robinson. In the keynote speech, Major General Billy Solomon told
the audience that "each of us have an obligation to ensure that history
is properly reconstructed".
Since then, dozen of other African American
Generals have added their names to this call to the nation, and many have
become active in spreading the "Coming Home..." message of pride and purpose.
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The "Generals Call" has also helped to build
a national network of Generals, other ranking officers, leading educational
opinion makers, etc., who have enlisted in this common mission to correct
America's history. As "Heritage Volunteers" they will work to bridge
the digital divide by helping to ispired young people to get connected
to the Internet and to check out the black western heroes on the "Coming
Home ..." website; AMERICASROOTS.com
The "Generals' call" is historic not only because
it righten history, but because it also makes history. The "Generals
Call" was the first time, ever, that Generals have joined in issuing such
a proclamation.
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| GENERALS TO LEAD D.C. SALUTE PARADE |
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The Generals of the "Generals' Call" will march
at the head of the "Coming Home..." Salute Parade in Washington D.C., followed
by ROTC cadets from Howard University and other leading historically black
colleges and universities, followed by black cowboys and riders of all
colors, riding shoulder to shoulder under massed flags.
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| GENERALS SPEARHEAD "PROMOTE YOUNG"
DRIVE |
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African American Generals who issued the "Generals'
Call" will also spearhead the "Coming Home..." petition drive to give Colonel
Charles Young a posthumous promotion to the rank of General.
Young was the highest ranking black U.S. Army
officer in the late 1800, and a scholar, poet, linguist, diplomat and civil
rights leader. He was to black Americans what Teddy Roosevelt was
to white Americans at the time. Popular opinion of his time held
that if he were not black he would have been promoted to General.
Instead, he became forefather of todays 200+ African American U.S. Army
Generals.
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| THE ROCKS SUPPORTS "COMING HOME..." |
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"The Rocks", a national organization of over
100 African American Generals and 1,200 senior officers wrote:
"ROCKS is very happy to join General Colin
Powell, General Johnnie E. Wilson, General Hugh Robinson and other plus
African American Generals in their " Generals' Call" urging America's writers,
producers and artists to create films, books and other art that celebrates
our forgotten heritage and its heroes.
We look forward to working with you to make
"Coming Home To America's Roots" a powerful catalyst for the racial healing
of our divided society".
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