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Kanye West is white America's worst nightmare. Because as much as one may attempt to dismiss him, you still have to turn on your regularly scheduled late night comedy program and stare him in the face. You can't avoid Kanye. He's made very sure of that.
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If you see a black man smiling wider or poking out his chest more than usual this week, you can probably assume that his excitement was caused, at least in part, by the rousing address given by President Barack Obama at the Morehouse College commencement.
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First Black Female Prisoner of War Tells Harrowing Tale
Much like the powerful images of Tuskegee airmen in full regalia sidled next to their planes during World War II, the image of Shoshana Johnson being escorted to safety after her captivity in Iraq is indelibly imprinted in the minds of television viewers across the world.
It was especially poignant for African Americans, who saw it as a fleeting moment of vindication for a time when blacks in the military were not acknowledged for their service.
Now, years later, Johnson, a former U.S. Army cook has helped change history again for blacks in the military. She was thrust into the spotlight when, in the early days of the Iraq War, she was shot in both ankles as her convoy of mechanics, cooks and disabled vehicles wandered into the city of Nasiriyah, Johnson writes in her newly released memoir, 'I'm Still Standing: From Captive U. S. Soldier to Free Citizen--My Journey Home.'
The wandering convoy touched off a bloody battle that left 11 U.S. soldiers dead and six abducted and held as prisoners of war, including Johnson and her friend, Jessica Lynch, she writes in the gripping memoir released just in time for Black History Month.
"I was shaking,'' she writes. "I was saying the Lord's Prayer to myself...when someone grabbed my legs and pulled me from my shelter. And like that, I became a prisoner of war.'' She became the first female prisoner of war in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first black female prisoner of war in U.S. history. But the Pentagon peddled Lynch's story, saying she went down fighting. Lynch later wrote a book correcting the story, saying she never fired a shot before being critically injured.
While Johnson's ordeal received less media attention, she was treated like a star on her home base at Fort Bliss, Texas. She was given light duties to allow her wounds to heal and was assigned by ranking officers and supervisors to represent the Army at high-profile events, which drew grumblings and rancor from some of her fellow soldiers.
"Being a POW was horrible, but some of the comments I received from fellow soldiers felt just as bad,'' she said in an interview with BV on Books. "I had a lot of support from the African American community, but it's like someone once said, 'Not every black person is your friend, and not every white person is your enemy. A black male was upset because I went to an Oscar De La Hoya fight. He was like, 'I was in the same Army and I didn't get to go.' I was like, 'did you get shot? We had totally different experiences. That hurt my heart. There was another white officer who accused me of housing fraud and said I wasn't living with my child.''
Johnson was rescued in April 2003, but by late August, she was severely depressed, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and at risk of endangering her relationship with her daughter. She requested a medical discharge.
"I wrote my story to set the record straight,'' she said in the interview. "There is so much out there that happened to me from people who were not there. I just wanted to tell my story and let it be known. I'm not naïve. There are people who will still say that is not what happened, but I know in my heart what is true.''
She is critical of the nation's military efforts in Iraq. "I never understood the politics of what's going into Iraq. I want my fellow soldiers to come home. It's not something I can watch on the news. It's very tender.''
Johnson said she still suffers from the aftereffects of combat. "It's going to be a long, hard road to get better,'' she said. "I take medication. It won't ease up as long as these conflicts are going on in the Middle East. I just have to get over the guilt of living when good people died. It's hard, but each day gets easier.''
'I'm Still Standing' is a riveting piece of black history that should be read for generations. It also is a compelling story of a woman's courage to survive against all odds.
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Comments: (484)
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By: Candace on 2/10/2010 6:21AM
God bless you, Shoshanna Johnson!
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By: Ernest Perry on 2/10/2010 6:23AM
You're one of those people that should heed the saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Have you served your country?
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By: crystal graham on 2/10/2010 7:01AM
this comes from a white american mother of four sons and grandmother of two. May the God of all Glory richly bless you color has nothing to do with war. unfortunately some people are just ignorant. Myself and family are so thankful for all your efforts and freely giving of yourself for our right to live with our freedoms that are too often taken for granted, how blessed we are to have giving people like yourself who remind us of the ultimate sacrifice others pay for our selfish miss guided attitudes. thank you will never be enough for your suffering.I pray Gods healing balm soothe your mind and free up your painful memories and bless you with more joys than you ever thought possible. Thank you again
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By: Buck on 2/10/2010 9:43AM
Thank you Crystal.
Thank you Shoshana Johnson for your service and sacrifice.
God Bless.
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By: Julie H. on 2/10/2010 11:37AM
Amen Crystal!!!!
Anyone that has the courage to join the military especially during these past few years has my thanks and prayers.
May God bless you and yours and grant you whatever is needed.
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By: mbonhamwolv on 2/10/2010 6:49AM
Billy,
As a white man, let me say that your comment is totally uncalled for. Putting politics totally aside as to the faulty intelligence that got us into this war, and although I wasn't able to serve in the U.S. military, I say, God bless all those who proudly and honorably served in our U.S. military.
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By: Linda on 2/10/2010 7:14AM
As for you while your intentions maybe good, it's not about faulty intelligence. You obviously don't know about SADDAM TORTURING & MURDERING PEOPLE! He had an ACID BATH ALONE that killed even his OWN brother in law among anyone else who stood against him. This is about freedom for ALL PEOPLE! Especially women ,and children who are murdered, oppressed, and enslaved. They had WMD I'm sure of that,but, for the record if they didn't what are they using to kill & blow OUR SOLDIERS into PIECES?
Take several Gov. classes. I suggest SAN ANGELO which has a great teacher who will open your eye's ......War's also stimulate the economy wheich LORD knows we needed after 9/11. Just for 9/11 alone I would have bombed them all.....
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By: Linda on 2/10/2010 6:57AM
Sweetie,
You have more respect than you think,and it's NOT just the black community. YOur family, your fellow soldiers, their family, and the majority of the entire US. You'll be in my prayers & I hope the physical woulds have healed. I know the mental ones may last indefinately,but know we're all routing for you! GOD BLESS YOU, and THANK YOU!
CHASKAinTEXAS
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By: mario sobers on 2/10/2010 10:35AM
Just what I expected from computer criminals like you. You become upset when someone response to your sense of hypocritical and evil thinking and would use the LORDS name for justification. Yes I served and all of my brothers served.We were proud then (Viet Nalm, Ist Gulf). You need to stick your head back up your but and clean your nose from the filth that you inhale. Stop sitting back and reading daily propaganda. People are dying because of the 911 hate you have in your heart for the rest of the world. Well the world don't revolve around you. You are a stone through away from still being lynched. I need to check myself for even responding to you at all. Before I leave, You should Fear your LORD and try to die in a state of beleife in ONE LORD. I pray that it's not to late for you but the way you talk hell is rolling out the red carpet for all HYPOCRITS and the un-informed. I am not hateful just truthful. Speare your time and mines and just take this comment with a grain of salt no wate.
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By: gred828 on 2/10/2010 6:57AM
To write something like this about ANY POW is nothing short of absurd and ignorance beyond repair. It senseless racism at the highest level. You definitely have issues that need to be addressed OR a foot in your butt.
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