Posted on 06/06/2020 9:20:33 PM PDT by Sequoyah101
Who am I?
I am a Black man who happens to be the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.
I am George Floyd…I am Philando Castile, I am Michael Brown, I am Alton Sterling, I am Tamir Rice.
Just like most of the Black Airmen and so many others in our ranks…I am outraged at watching another Black man die on television before our very eyes. What happens all too often in this country to Black men who are subjected to police brutality that ends in death…could happen to me. As shocking as that may sound to some of you…I hope you realize that racism/discrimination/exclusion does not care much about position, titles or stature….so yes, it could happen to you, or one of your friends, or your Airmen, or your NCOIC, your Flight Chief, your Squadron Commander or even your Wing Commander. This, my friends, is my greatest fear, not that I will be killed by a white police officer (believe me my heart starts racing like most other Black men in America when I see those blue lights behind me)…but that I will wake up to a report that one of our Black Airmen has died at the hands of a white police officer.
As I struggle with the Air Force’s own demons that include the racial disparities in military justice and discipline among our youngest Black male Airmen and the clear lack of diversity in our senior officer ranks…I can only look in the mirror for the solution. I, the CMSAF must do better in ensuring every Airmen in our ranks has a fair chance at becoming the best version of themselves. While this is a complicated issue…I, along with every other leader across the force, am responsible for making sure it becomes a reality.
What have I been doing?
Not enough…I have done my share of community service work, been in involved in mentor programs, voted in local, state and national elections, but I’ve come to the conclusion that whatever I have done in the past is just not enough. So, I spent the last week, “plotting, planning, strategizing, organizing and mobilizing” just as Killer Mike, the popular Atlanta rapper and activist encouraged us to do. Twenty-five of my closest friends (White, Black, Asian, enlisted, officer and civilian) and I have an ongoing dialogue where we began by acknowledging our right to be angry about what is happening.
We eventually moved beyond the rage and began to think about what’s next? What could or should we be doing as a group and as individuals to stop this from happening in our communities across these United States? We don’t have all the answers, but we do have some of the most brilliant minds, many, who have first hand experience with this topic and we will continue working towards a solution. While we can’t change the world, we can change the communities we live in and more importantly, those where our Airmen strive to be seen, heard, and treated as human beings. I have also not done enough as your most senior enlisted leader…while we have made progress in many of the areas that impact our Airmen and families; I believe that we have not made much progress in this area of racial injustice and diversity among our ranks. This is why I’m working with General Goldfein, first and foremost to have a full and thorough independent review of our military justice system. We will look to uncover where the problem lies and how we can fix it. We are also working to improve the diversity of our force, especially within the senior ranks. I hope this message triggers responses and ideas from each of you on things we can do better.
What should you be doing?
Like me, acknowledge your right to be upset about what’s happening to our nation. But you must then find a way to move beyond the rage and do what you think is right for the country, for your community, for your sons, daughters, friends and colleagues…for every Black man in this country who could end up like George Floyd. Part of my group’s solution involves helping to bridge the communication and understanding gap between law enforcement and young Black men. You decide what works best for you, where you can have the most meaningful impact and most importantly, what you can stay committed to…we didn’t get here overnight so don’t expect things to change tomorrow…we are in this for the long haul. Vote, protest peacefully, reach out to your local and state officials, to your Air Force leadership and become active in your communities…we need all hands on deck. If you don’t do anything else, I encourage everyone to fight, not just for freedom, justice and equality, but to fight for understanding. You might think you know what it’s like to grow up, exist, survive and even thrive in this country as a Black person…but let me tell you, regardless of how many Black friends you have, or how Black your neighborhood was, or if your spouse or in-laws are Black…you don’t know.
You don’t know the anxiety, the despair, the heartache, the fear, the rage and the disappointment that comes with living in this country, OUR country every single day. So, take the time to talk to someone – your brand new Airmen, your NCOIC or your Flight Commander - about their experiences so that you have a better understanding of who they are, where they come from and what drives them. Frankly, you owe this to every Airmen, but I’m asking you specifically to pay attention to the Black Airmen in your ranks during this trying time. Don’t misunderstand me, they don’t need, nor do they want any special treatment…but they deserve to be treated fairly and equally, both by our United States Air Force and these United States of America…this begins with you, and I am asking, no fighting, for your understanding.
Like you, I don’t have all of the answers, but I am committed to seeing a better future for this nation. A future where Black men must no longer suffer needlessly at the hands of White police officers, and where Black Airmen have the same chance to succeed as their White counterparts. Trust me, I understand this is a difficult topic to talk about…
Difficult…not impossible…
Difficult…but necessary.
Who am I…
I am Kaleth. I am a Black Man who happens to be the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and I am committed to making this better.
This same kind of message was sent last week from Sec. AF. on down the chain of command in a Social Justice Warrior, Virtue Signaling orgy.
Here is a little more fire for blood boiling:
https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2020/06/military-brass-acknowledge-racism-ranks-pledge-dialogue-change/165896/
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/air-force-leaders-impassioned-tweets-spark-candid-conversation/story?id=71047498
They just know there is lots of racism out there and they are going to find it by gawd even if they have to make it.
Tail gunner Joe and the Spanish Inquisition have nothing on these people. They are mere pikers by comparison. These are evil, bitter, spiteful, miserable people who lead this movement and their followers are brain dead pawns.
Is this any way to prepare for war?
It must be unbearable for many just to get up and go to work every day and I don't mean Kaleth and his buddies. I mean the troops and officers who are still getting the job done and not looking for trouble. There are still people in the military that joined to serve, learn, be challenged and not looking for a social engineering platform or play pen.
Predictably he pulls the race card about lack of diversity in the officer ranks amongst other things. This is bull. Blacks fill many many major command billets and have for some time. For some, some is never enough. They are not satisfied until they have all the control.
Kaleth is leading a bunch who don't want equality. They want retribution. They can't just let things go along quietly and do their jobs while everybody else does theirs. They are always on the lookout for the slightest infraction real or perceived. They are always on edge looking for something to be offended about and they can' always find it even if it is just in their mind.
Disgusting and nobody can say a word in either descent or defense.
Kaleth may be CMSAF but he is also a post turtle with a chip on his shoulder looking for a fight that needs to learn how to write for starters. Kaleth is a failed leader who only represents a part of his troops. He is a disgrace to the uniform and he is guilty of trying to lead insurrection. However, he is no less guilty than his commanders.
We have a state of insurrection against the President and the People by some in the Military. It can't be painted something else. Be very afraid.
I thank this chief Master Sergeant for his service.
At the same time I would point out to him that he is much more likely to be killed by a black man in many places in our country, than he is to be killed by a white policeman.
Well!
I can’t understand what the heck you posted, and I’m not ‘afraid’.
I’m just trying to figure out what ‘descent or defense’ might mean...
“This, my friends, is my greatest fear, not that I will be killed by a white police officer (believe me my heart starts racing like most other Black men in America when I see those blue lights behind me)…but that I will wake up to a report that one of our Black Airmen has died at the hands of a white police officer.”
They are sooo self centered...I think EVERYONE’S heart races when stopped by police...and...one of the 4 police in the Floyd incident was BLACK.
I wonder what he thinks of the Black on Black murder epidemic in America? Of the fact that 70% of violent crime in America is committed by the back community while they represent 13% of the population? Or the fact that 75% of black children grow up without fathers. Nah, never let facts get in the way of a good narrative!
>> They just know there is lots of racism out there and they are going to find it by gawd even if they have to make it.
It certainly seems that way.
- - - - -
And let’s not hold our breath for the “silence is violence” truth: Black Babies Matter
That so called “race disparity” junk is laughable...
Since the 1970s there has been mandatory race relations classes for the white members of the USAF and the blacks have had their own “Social Actions” office on every base (paid for by the American taxpayers and only for black airmen) They could turn in real or imagined grievances against white members and they were listened to and believed without any reasonable proof required...the white ember would be punished for whatever the black airman said he or she was suppose to have done or said...
Plus there was a Social Actions Committee that met every month and usually only the complaints of the black members were discussed...the subject was usually about stupid things like the waitresses in some downtown (and off limits) bar refused to “date” him...but each complaint had to be taken seriously and treated as though some white man had choke holded him...the whole session was taken up on what we could do for him (and this an OFF LIMITS BAR !!!)
I know this happened because I was the only woman and representative NCO for my squadron to these sometimes X-Rated meetings...yes there were officers there...But none of them dared to state the obvious...I had to put up with that insanity for nearly 2 years...
This so called chief might not have been in the USAF back as far as the 1970s but he would have had to be in for quite a long time to make that rank...
Throughout his rant, he uses the upper case “B” in the word “Black” and the lower case “w” in the word “white”.
Neither word should be capitalized as they are both used as adjectives but it tells me a lot about where this ignorant N.C.O. is “coming from”.
No. He does capitalize "White" further down.
Neither word should be capitalized as they are both used as adjectives but it tells me a lot about where this ignorant N.C.O. is “coming from”.
This is something style manuals have been arguing about for a very long time. Some people capitalize both. Other people capitalize neither. Some people capitalize one but not another. And some of us are so confused that we do it one way some times and some way the other.
Unreal. First he says to give black airmen special attention, then tells us they neither need nor want it. Then he intimates they’re not treated fairly or equally.
His final sentence clearly let’s us know his priority.
“Kaleth may be CMSAF but he is also a post turtle with a chip on his shoulder looking for a fight that needs to learn how to write for starters. Kaleth is a failed leader who only represents a part of his troops. He is a disgrace to the uniform and he is guilty of trying to lead insurrection. However, he is no less guilty than his commanders.”
And to all you pilots whose chain of command let the atheist bully Mikey Weinstein choke the Presence of God out of your daily lives:
A lot of woke `airmen of color’ are assigned to work on your aircraft. The CMAF is only stoking their rage and sense of entitlement.
Think about that the next you taxi onto the runway.
I was a rated aviator once. Don’t have to worry about such things anymore. Just see to my weapons and pray I die on my feet.
Retired USAF here. I’m a bit confused by the terminology. what is CMAF and MSAF?
Chief Master Sgt. of The Air Force (E-10) fairly new rank and there’s only one in the Air Force, one in the Army etc.
The newest second Lieutenant out ranks him.
When did whites protest nationwide and demand special privileges in every institution and business, because a white junkie and violent home invader was a victim of police brutality?
This screed is put out just as the Air Force’s newest Chief of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., is about to be confirmed by the Senate. First black general to lead a service component.
E-10?
This is not real is it?
And his name is “CHARLIE BROWN”, reeeaaally!
can’t continue, LAUGHING to hard.
Sergeant Wright has a very Negrocentric view of the Universe. His heart starts racing like most other Black men in America when he sees those blue lights behind him. Funny thing. My heart picks up a beat under the same circumstances. His greatest fear is he will wake up to a report that one of his Black Airmen has died at the hands of a white police officer. Greater than the fear of a white airman killed under any circumstances. He claims, “You might think you know what it’s like to grow up Black…you don’t.” I don’t know what it’s like to grow up Chinese and neither does he. Sergeant Wright wants to “bridge the communication and understanding gap between law enforcement and young Black men.” As a retired LEO I know about this gap. Young black men are often confrontational in their dealings with police. Just ask for a badge number without using obscenities. When confronted with “you only singled me out because I’m black,” they realized this would not work after I stopped laughing. Sergeant Wright says, “they don’t need, nor do they want any special treatment. BS. We all want “special treatment.” Would Sergeant Wright be a Chief Master Sergeant if he was white?
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