This Day in Black History: June 15, 1877
Although West Point — the first military school in America — was founded by Congress in 1802, the first African-American cadet would not graduate from the academy for more than half a century.
On June 15, 1977, former slave Henry Ossian Flipper graduated from West Point with the ranking of second lieutenant in the all-African-American 10th Cavalry.
While he was not the first Black cadet in the school — James Webster Smith was admitted in 1870 but did not graduate -- Flipper spent four years at the academy and was never greeted or spoken to by a white cadet the entire time.
The prejudice at West Point coincided with racist and sexist bias within the American military, which on some levels is still prevalent today. However, the Academy is now fully integrated with women and men of all races with an enrollment of more than 4,000 students.
Follow Dominique Zonyeé on Twitter/Instagram: @DominiqueZonyee
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