Dissidents: Veterans Speak Out for Justice Main Menu Racism in the US Military Veterans Against War Women, Gender, and Sexuality in the US Military Dissidents Veterans Speak Out

Introduction

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US military veterans are not a monolith. Their experiences are as diverse as the communities they represent and serve. At this time, the federal government is erasing the histories of Black veterans like Dorie Miller, Metgar Evers, and Jackie Robinson from the Department of Defense. Transgender people are, once again, being banned from serving. This moment of erasure and repression makes hearing the stories of veterans who experienced racial discrimination, gender inequality, and punishment in the military even more urgent. Many resisted and spoke out against injustices and organized for reforms, disability benefits, and care. 

Content warning: Some of the oral history interviews recount graphic memories of violence, experiences of racism, and sexual assault. This project intends to promote greater understanding of the experiences of veterans, particularly those from historically marginalized communities. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of all veterans, but their experiences shed light on cultural, systemic, and social issues faced by many U.S. military veterans, historically and today. 

All participants in this project have consented to their stories being recorded and shared with the public, and they have reviewed the oral history interviews with the opportunity to edit any content that they do not wish to be part of the public record. This project was carried out with the highest standards and best practices as established by the Oral History Association.

 

This page has paths:

  1. Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide Jason Higgins
  2. Crossing the Military-Civilian Divide: An Oral History Collection Jason Higgins

Contents of this path:

  1. Navigating Racism in the US Military
  2. Women, Gender, and Sexuality in the US Military
  3. Veterans Against War
  4. Bodies and Minds: Healthcare, Mental Health, Disability
  5. Drawing Connections
  6. About the Research Team