African Americans have played a pivotal role in U.S. military history, serving with distinction from the American Revolution through modern conflicts despite facing systemic segregation and discrimination. Early contributions include Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the American Revolution, and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, whose bravery at Fort Wagner during the Civil War helped shift public perception toward the efficacy of Black soldiers.

The legacy is marked by a gradual dismantling of segregation, culminating in Executive Order 9981 in 1948, which banned racial discrimination in the armed forces.

This progress paved the way for historic leadership milestones, including General Colin Powell becoming the first African American Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Lloyd Austin III serving as the first African American Secretary of Defense.

Today, African Americans continue to serve as a backbone of the U.S. military, with over 21.5 percent of Army personnel identifying as Black, honoring a legacy of valor, resilience, and service.

In 1982, Ken Robinson hosted an examination of military careers, outlining options for young African-Americans on his talk show on WJMO Radio in Cleveland, Ohio. This is an example of how Black radio stations served their communities by doing more than just playing music.

Ken interviews the late actor/director Stephen Furst about his battle with diabetes. Furst rose to fame in the role of Kent "Flounder" Dorftman in the comedy film Animal House. He went on to star in the TV shows Delta House, St. Elsewhere, and Babylon 5, and the films Midnight Madness, Silent Rage, and The Dream Team. Furst passed away in 2017.

More at KRobCollection.com

Newscasts from Ken Robinson spanning 32 years.

1978 - WCSB-FM Cleveland, OH

1979, 1981 WJMO-AM Cleveland Heights, OH

1983 WGAR-AM Cleveland, OH

1998 WGAR-FM Cleveland, OH

2002 WISN-AM, Milwaukee, WI

2006 WMVX-FM Cleveland, OH

2006 WPGB-FM, Pittsburgh, PA

2006 WMMS-FM Cleveland, OH

2012 WHLO-AM Akron, OH

2014 WMAN-AM Mansfield, OH

2016 WKBN-AM Youngstown, OH

2020 WSPD-AM Toledo, OH

2020 WTAM-AM Cleveland, OH

More at http://krobcollection.com