A century after his death, the first Black US Army colonel is promoted to brigadier general

Glad it happens now, and sad it did not happen during his service or shortly thereafter.
Rich

COL (Join to see)
"CNN)Charles Young, the first Black US Army colonel whose groundbreaking military career was hampered a century ago by the racism of the era, was posthumously promoted on Friday to brigadier general.

Young's promotion retroactively makes him the first Black American recognized with that rank, the Army said.

The honorary designation, following years of efforts to posthumously promote him, was the focus of an official promotion ceremony at the United States Military Academy at West Point on Friday.

After Young was passed over for promotion before his death in 1922, a Black service member wouldn't join the general officers rank in the Army until Benjamin Davis Sr. was promoted to brigadier general in 1940.

Young's "promotion today to brigadier general has been a long time delayed, but fortunately for all of us no longer denied," Under Secretary of the Army Gabe Camarillo said Friday in remarks during the ceremony. Camarillo also praised Young as a "model leader" and called his legacy "frankly inspiring."

Members of Young's family were in attendance at the ceremony, including his great niece Renotta Young, who was presented with Young's posthumous honorary promotion order and certificate, a gold-plated leather belt that general officers wear, and a one-star general officer flag.

"Charles Young weathered social isolation not only at West Point but throughout his military and National Parks career," Renotta Young recalled in a speech Friday, adding that despite the hardships Young faced, he "managed to love" the American experiment.

"While he felt the sharp sting of discriminatory treatment from his classmates here at West Point, at various points in his career from his superiors also, he did not consign all of White America to the racist side of the ledger," she added.

Renotta Young told CNN it's taken half a century to get her uncle promoted to brigadier general, an effort largely driven by her family and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in which Young is an honorary member.

"Even though it was long overdue, this was the time it happened, and I think this is the right time for folks to communicate the legacy of his life and what he has done for our country," she told CNN."...

Great news even tho way too late.