Before joining the Navy, Evans had spent his entire life within the state boundaries of Georgia. Following his initial time at Georgia Southern, he decided to join the United States Armed Forces.  He enlisted in the military as an escape from Georgia and the cycles of debt and intergenerational poverty in 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."

Barriers

It was nearly 10 years between Devin's first attempt to join the military and his enlistment.  At the age of 28, Devin tried again, but still encountered similar barriers and 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.”

Institutional Racism

Racism has become more insidious since the Vietnam War era, but Devin encountered various forms of institutional racism and discrimination. 
Evans witnessed firsthand how people of color are often discharged more frequently than white service members and denied disability benefits. He also discusses how the culture of the "the good old boys club" creates inequities in promotion and achievement. Despite these barriers, Evans learned to carry on and fulfill his duties. 

"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."

Representation

Devin Evans, as a Black man in the Navy, knows firsthand how racial demographics play a role within the system.

"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.

View the Full Interview Below