Since 1977, the U.S. Military Academy, through the Corps of Cadets, conducts a dinner in honor of Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African-American graduate of West Point in June 1877. This year’s dinner was Feb. 12 at the Cadet Mess Hall, with Col. John Baskerville, academy professor of Arabic in the Department of Foreign Languages, as the guest speaker. Baskerville spoke about the trials of Flipper during his 47-month experience at West Point.
Baskerville said Flipper, who was shunned by his peers at West Point and spent most of his time alone, overcame harassment, isolation and insults to become the first African-American to graduate from West Point.
“Flipper’s story is one of inspiration, a story of perseverance and a story of great courage,” Baskerville said.
The Flipper dinner also included the presentation of the Henry Ossian Flipper Memorial Award, which is awarded to a First-Class Cadet who has demonstrated the highest qualities of leadership, self-discipline and perseverance in the face of adversity. Read More
Photo Courtesy of Kathy Eastwood