Devin Evans was born in Brooklyn, New York but eventually moved down to Augusta, Georgia where he spent most of his early life. Following graduation from high school, Devin went on to attend Georgia Southern University but did not graduate at that time. He eventually finished his degree at Post University with the support of the G.I. Bill. In May of 2017, Evans enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He started his Navy career as an undesignated seaman, and through his first command, he handled basic aviation maintenance. Since then, Devin started to further his career in the military, and he is currently working as a part of the informational warfare unit of the Navy.

Devin, until the joined the military, had spent his entire life within the state boundaries of Georgia. Following his initial time at Georgia Southern, he took inventory of different aspects of his life, and from there he decided to join the United States Armed Forces. And those factors ranged from wanting to get out of Georgia, the threat of debt and wanting a better future for himself and his family.

"At my age at that time to just think of Georgia as; "This is it? This is where I’m supposed to be for the rest of my life?" I had to get out of that, I had to make a serious change."

It was nearly 10 years from when Devin first attempted to join the military to when he eventually joined. During that time he was working other jobs, since metaphorical ghosts of his past had prevented him from enlisting in the first place. However, at the age of 28, Devin tried again, but still came up with the same issues. That was until he went to a Navy recruiting center and finally got the break he was looking for.

"He just looked at me, looked at my paperwork, and he said “Oh this is no problem, it’s just going to take some paperwork for us to sign, maybe jump through some hoops but if you are willing to do it, let’s do it.”

Despite the structure of military and the common entity they serve, racism and discrimination can still emerge. Devin Evans mentions how he has seen this firsthand, from how non-whites are discharged more frequently to how actual achievement might play second to being in the 'good-old-boys' club. As well as how it's important to have the right avenues to express one's frustration and carry on to the next day.

"Unfortunately I have witnessed some unfortunate events such as those in and once again, unfortunately those things still go on now and it's like it's a blind eye, sometimes that gets turned towards it."

Devin Evans, as a minority in the military, knows firsthand how racial demographics play a role within the system. He questions why people who aren't white find more success in the Navy sector than other sectors, and why there are more of them there in general compared to elsewhere. As well as how within his own field of technology, there isn't a lot of representation in all levels, and how that impacts both him and the his field of work.

"When you go to squadrons, it's mostly white people or Caucasians. and then you do get your mix of Latinos, Mexicans, and things of that nature. But why is that? Why do I not see more African American pilots, why do I not see more African American commanding officers? Why don't I see that?

In this full interview, Evans talks about his life growing up in Augusta, Georgia and attending college at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. During his time at Georgia Southern University, he experienced culture shock regarding how different racial groups interacted with one another. There was a ten-year gap between when Devin left Georgia Southern University to when he began his Navy journey. When first seeking to enlist in the U.S. Military, he had been turned away by various recruiters of other branches, but he found a new home in the Navy and, since then, has enjoyed the benefits of a successful career in the Navy.