Racism Within West Point

By John Burk

West Point, the prestigious military academy that carries itself with honor and pride for the incredible leaders that have been produced from the rigorous academic undertaking of its cadets, yet what happens when those same cadets identify with a group that has been known for inflicting violent protest throughout various parts of the United States, calling for the deaths of police officers, and even going so far as to call for the deaths of white Americans.



The students below in the picture have been making their voices heard more and more behind closed doors to senior ranking officers, until now. This overt display of the black lives matter movement is not, in itself wrong, but to do so while in uniform is completely unprofessional and not in keeping with what the USMA stands for, and as well as violating the DOD directive 1344.10 which states:

-A member of the Armed Forces on active duty may:

4.1.1.3. Join a partisan or nonpartisan political club and attend its meetings when NOT iN uniform, subject to the restrictions of subparagraph 4.1.2.4. (See DoD Instruction 1334.1 (Reference (c).)



-A member of the Armed forces shall not:

-4.1.2.12. Display a partisan political sign, poster, banner, or similar device visible to the public at one’s residence on a military installation, even if that residence is part of a privatized housing development.



The ladies before you are class seniors and have been making their voices heard more and more on an app called “Yik Yak” where users are kept anonymous, yet no one dares speak up in public against them due to them being accused of being racist and risk being expelled from the academy from hurting someone's feelings.



A source says:



“It’s a really touchy subject here. We can get kicked out of West Point, or forced to repeat years for what is called a “respect board.” They can be given for just making someone upset, so no one wants to get kicked out of college and lose their commission over something like this, especially since a white man, in this situation, is already at a disadvantage when a conversation like this starts. It’s purely political.”



The United States military does not align with any singular group. It is an organization unto itself that embodies equal opportunity for all, or so we would think. Clearly there is a double standard when debating the activist movement “black lives matter”. Agree with the movement or not, the simple act of identifying with this movement while in uniform is a clear violation of Army policy.



Are these the type of “leaders” you want moving down to the line and leading your sons and daughters, graduates with an agenda?





Soldier of Steel