ALCOAST 056/24 - FEB 2024 OUR NATION BRINGS ITS HERITAGE INTO HARMONY

R 051550Z FEB 24 MID600117167056U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 056/24
SSIC 5350
SUBJ: OUR NATION BRINGS ITS HERITAGE INTO HARMONY
1. The 2024 celebration of African American or Black History Month
celebrates the theme of "African Americans and the Arts" to
spotlight the deep ways that the community has enriched literature,
performing arts, fashion, architecture, music, and other forms of
cultural expression.
2. The creativity and passion of African American artists have left
an indelible mark on American culture from the nation's earliest
days to the present. Groundbreaking contributors such as architect
Paul Revere Williams; sculptors Pearl Fryar and Edmonia Lewis;
dancers Josephine Baker and Alvin Ailey; painters Aaron Douglas and
Lois Mailou Jones; musicians Aretha Franklin, Louis Armstrong, James
Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince; and authors James Baldwin, Toni
Morrison, Maya Angelou, and W.E.B. Du Bois inspired people of all
backgrounds through their art.
3. Talented African Americans serving in the Coast Guard have also
contributed to the Nation's artistic landscape. Jacob Lawrence, who
was drafted into the Coast Guard during World War II, grew to world
prominence for his work. Beginning in the 1930s, Lawrence painted
scenes of Harlem street life and themes of social opposition, which
became important commentaries on African American culture. In 1941
he completed his most celebrated work, depicting the early 20th
century mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to
the urban North as they sought better employment and social
opportunities. In 1942, the New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and
the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC each bought half of the
series. In the Coast Guard, Lawrence served as a steward's mate, a
common assignment for black members during our nation's era of
racially segregated crews. Despite his lower rank, Lawrence's
commanding officer encouraged him to continue working on his art. He
also served on the USS SEA CLOUD, a Coast Guard-crewed ship historic
for standing up with an interracial crew during the segregation era.
4. Today, Lawrence's works are in the permanent collections of
numerous museums. One of his more famous pieces, "The Embarkation,"
is in the Coast Guard Museum's collection. Lawrence recognized that
the accomplishments of minority people were part of the main - not
separate - fabric of our nation, and said "I do not look upon the
story of the Blacks in America as a separate experience to the
American culture, but as a part of the American heritage and
experience as a whole."
5. I encourage the workforce to participate in activities and
special observances to celebrate the contributions of African
Americans to our Service and the Nation, both through the arts and
as talented professionals who advance our mission excellence. You
can learn more about Black History Month by visiting the following
web pages:
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https://www.blackhistorymonth.gov/

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https://www.defenseculture.mil/Special-Observances/#black-history-
month

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https://asalh.org/

6. POC: COMDT (CG-00H), Mr. Edward Stoker, 202-372-4519, or
Edward.A.Stoker@uscg.mil.
7. ADM Linda Fagan, Commandant (CCG), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.