By Bryon L. Garner, PhD
November 5th, 2024, was a call for a reckoning. The time for honest conversations is upon us.
My exploration of patriotism in America began with my military experiences and those of my family members. I have also interviewed many other Black veterans. My exploration reveals a complex mosaic of experiences that challenge simplistic notions of patriotism and service. It underscores the need for a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of what it means to be patriotic in a nation still grappling with its racial history and present realities.
What does it mean to be patriotic in America if you are Black? This question is as relevant today as it was when I was a young sailor in 1991.
In early 1991, after serving seven years in the Navy and returning from Saudi Arabia post-Persian Gulf War, an incident profoundly altered my perception of myself and my place in America. The catalyst was the Rodney King beating by LAPD officers in March 1991. Later that month, while working in my unit’s administrative office, I experienced a moment that crystallized the complex intersection of race, service, and patriotism.
A senior officer entered our office with a man in an LA County Sheriff’s uniform. As we looked up, the officer pointed at me and exclaimed, “There he is! Get him!” For a moment, I was paralyzed with shock and terror. Was I about to be beaten like I had witnessed on TV? The ensuing laughter revealed it was a joke—the Sheriff’s Deputy was the officer’s brother being introduced to the staff. This incident, however, was far from amusing to me. It took years to make sense of that experience and others like it. I paused only after my discharge, while dealing with transition, to try to make sense of my service to this country and what I experienced.
I experienced a juxtaposition of pride and resilience in my service measured against the reality of race in America. I was in the Navy, yet my Blackness made me a target for “jokes” and comments. I was serving my country, yet in that same country, law enforcement was brutalizing men who looked like me.
I have initiated a conversation about the intersection of race and patriotism in America from the perspective of Black veterans. I have presented my research at various academic conferences and served as a panel member in media, contributing to the ongoing dialogue about race, patriotism, and veteran experiences in America. I blend my personal experience, the experiences of Black veterans I have interviewed for my book, and scholarly rigor, bringing depth and authenticity to often overlooked Black veteran perspectives about race, veteran identity, and patriotism.
Please use the link to schedule an opportunity for me to speak with your podcast, radio, or TV audience on this engaging topic. https://calendly.com/blgphdllc/speaker-request