African American Military History Museum hosts panel discussion about the integration of the US Mili

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Miss’ Department of History and the Dale Center for the Study of War and Society hosted a panel discussion Thursday at the African American Military History Museum about the book: “Integrating the US Military: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation since World War II.”

Several people were in attendance including veterans, and the co-editors of the book.

Co-editor, Douglas Bristol said, “We felt that part of what the mission of this book is, is that we need to re-center our military history so it focuses on the experience of women and minorities. And if we’re going to do that, we need to do that in an African American institution such as this museum, and have the input of our African American veterans who are going to speak to us today.”

“It’s such a crucial time to be understanding the context of integrating the US Military, especially when you think about things like the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in 2011, and the opening of combat specialists to women in 2015,” said co-editor, Heather Stur.

Stur said she wants the readers to know the integration that is happening now in the military is part of a much longer process.