United States Defense Policy Process and African Americans

United States Defense Policy Process and African Americans

One fundamental aspect of the black revolution over the past decade has been the raised concern and interest and the subsequent arousal of African affairs among Africans living in the United States of America. African Americans are now more aware than ever with defense issues in America and bonds connecting them to Africa, their origin country. This awareness manifests itself through various ways including black nationalists and other impassioned rhetoric’s such as Malcom X (Bardes, 13). This has been evidenced by the popular styles currently adorning the African society of America. This is also supported by the growing strong identification with mother Africa as their sole origin.

A good example of this awareness is the impeach move by five members of the Congressional Black Caucus in October 1984 against President Reagan. President Reagan had given orders for invasive action on the Caribbean nation (Malan, 24). The Congressional Black Caucus movement condemned President Reagan and his office declaring that this action had racist incentives. President Bush was also acted against by African Americans because of his decision oversee the Persian Gulf War as well as the Iraqi invasion. Africans in the United States have had significant impact on various policies including the Congressional Black Caucus, all because of their increased awareness in matters, as well as the states consideration on their views.

Currently, African Americans have been influenced by the challenges and triumphs within Africa. Many African states had to overcome numerous challenges before attaining independence and attaining a responsible and self-reliant status among other accomplished states in the international stage. This has played the role of propelling immense pride within Africans living in America (Irazábal, 49). Consequently, African Americans become more aware and active on matters issues and challenges against them. This concern is particularly directed to the widespread white oppression in America, as well as other European countries.

In spite of efforts to quell this vice, distinct limitations have been noted with regard to accessibility of resources by black Americans that would aid in the contribution of defense policy process in the United States of America. For decades, racial oppression and segregation has denied African Americans technical skills and economic means that can have significant contribution to the defense policy process of the United States (Rosenblum, 66). The potential resource with a potent capability of mobilizing African Americans to become an advanced and wealthy society is the defense policy process and their awareness on this process has largely led to significant effect.

A number of American policy makers have asserted that the African populations in the United States are a determining factor in shaping the defense policy process. The first secretary of state to Africa for the United States, Joseph Saterthwaite declared that the United States held special interests towards the African continent regarding the defense policy process. This is because a tenth of the entire population in the nation. The successor to this position, Mennen G Williams emphasized on creating positive links between the United States and Africa (Wachira, 14). He further pointed out that only Ethiopia and Nigeria had larger African populations than the United States, and therefore had a significant role to play in determining the outcome of the defense policy process. William Rogers, a past secretary of state in the United States reiterated the same point as his successor, Mennen G Williams through his statement that one in every ten American citizens had an African origin. He further stated that this affected America culture wise and that certain aspects regarding this issue had to be considered.

 

Works Cited

Bardes, Barbara A, Mack C. Shelley, and Steffen W. Schmidt. American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials. Belmont: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008. Print.

Dye, Thomas R. Understanding Public Policy. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice-Hall, 2004. Print.

Ferrell, Henry C. The United States Congress and National Defense, 1915-1939. Lewiston, N.Y: Edwin Mellen Press, 2007. Print.

George, Roger Z, and Harvey Rishikof. The National Security Enterprise: Navigating the Labyrinth. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2011. Print.

Malan, Mark. “The Oau and African Sub regional Organisations – a Closer Look at the ‘peace Pyramid’.” Institute for Security Studies Papers. (2009). Print.

Miller, Joshua, and Ann M. Garran. Racism in the United States: Implications for the Helping Professions. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole, 2008. Print.

O’Connor, Karen, Larry Sabato, and Alixandra B. Yanus. Essentials of American Government: Roots and Reform. New York: Pearson Longman, 2011. Print.

Rosenblum, Karen E, and Toni-Michelle Travis. The Meaning of Difference: American Constructions of Race, Sex and Gender, Social Class, Sexual Orientation, and Disability. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2008. Print.

Irazábal, Clara, and Ramzi Farhat. “Africans in the United States: Place-Making in the Pre-World War Ii, Postwar, and Contemporary City.” Journal of Planning Literature. 22.3 (2008): 207-228. Print.

Wachira, George M. “Sovereignty and the ‘united States of Africa’ : Insights from the Eu.” Institute for Security Studies Papers. 144.144 (2007). Print.

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