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Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. became the first African-American general in the US Army on 25th October, 1940 - despite facing opposition from those who saw his appointment as political opportunism, whilst Roosevelt wooed the \u2018negro vote\u2019.\nDespite facing racial discrimination throughout his career, Davis had a deep connection to the military, serving in various roles and campaigns, including the Spanish American War, and had been mentored by Lieutenant Charles Young, the only other black officer at the time.\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain why Davis\u2019s date of birth is a question of debate; explain how Davis\u2019s son went on to have a military career that echoed the discrimination and successes of his father\u2019s; and trace the history of black soldiers\u2019 involvement in the US Army since the country\u2019s foundation\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Benjamin O. Davis Sr. (1877-1970)\u2019 (Blackpast, 2017): https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/davis-sr-benjamin-o-1877-1970-2/\n\u2022 \u2018Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr\u2019 (U.S. Army Center of Military History, 2021):\xa0 https://history.army.mil/html/topics/afam/davis.html\n\u2022 \u2018Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. - First African American to command a Brigade\u2019 (Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9FuPcYctBo\nLove the show? Join \U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS \U0001f334 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!\nPlus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Thanks!\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts: podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices