A new academic year brings a new lineup of speakers to the U.S. Army War College's Civil-Military Relations Center. Host Carrie Lee welcomes Cameron McCoy to kick off the season with a dynamic discussion of McCoy's new book, Contested Valor: African American Marines in the Age of Power, Protest, and Tokenism. They delve into the experiences of the legendary black Marines of Montford Point and explore the broader context of race relations in the U.S. military. This compelling conversation sheds light on the nation's historical shortcomings regarding racism while acknowledging the progress made and emphasizing the ongoing need for change.

They were just falling in line with what they believe were the rites and passages of a social society that had a foundation that rested upon dividing one ethnic group from another.

Cameron McCoy, PhD, is a native of Washington, D.C., and has taught courses in 20th- and 21st-century U.S. history at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Brigham Young University, and the United States Air Force Academy. He earned his doctorate in U.S. history at the University of Texas at Austin after receiving a master’s in military history at Texas A&M University and his bachelor’s in International & Area Studies at BYU. He is the author of Contested Valor: African American Marines in the Age of Power, Protest, and Tokenism, published by the University Press of Kansas, released in October 2023. In addition to being an assistant professor and teaching courses on U.S. race relations, the Great Wars, modern warfare studies, and foreign policy, McCoy also serves in the Marine Corps Reserves as an infantry officer.

The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps or Department of Defense.

Photo Description: Black Marines, attached to the 3rd Ammunition Company, take time out from supplying ammunition to the front line on Saipan. Riding a captured bicycle is Pfc. Horace Boykin while (left to right) Cpl. Willis T. Anthony, Pfc. Emmitt Shackelford and Pfc. Eugene Purdy watch, June 1944.

Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Kris Daberkoe