Double Victory: The African American Military Experience conveys a sense of appreciation and respect for the military service of African Americans from the American Revolution to the War on Terror.

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Mary N. Elliot, Curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, explores the military service of African Americans – from the American Revolution to the War on Terror.

About the Exhibition

  • When: Ongoing
  • Where: Level 3 (L3), General Colin L. Powell Gallery
  • Guest Curator: Krewasky Salter

It establishes an understanding that the African American military experience shapes opportunities for the greater community and has profoundly shaped the nation.

In choosing to serve in the military, African Americans sought to have their service understood by the nation as a demand for liberty and citizenship. African American men and women who engaged in the military made their service useful not only for the good of their country, but to benefit both their personal lives and their community.

Negroes and the War 1942

Negroes and the War 1942

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Memory of Eliot Elisofon

General Colin L. Powell Gallery

Colin Powell’s Oral History Interview

Learn more about General Powell’s life and service through his oral history interview with Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of NMAAHC and current Secretary of the Smithsonian.

In September 2022, the military history gallery was named the General Colin L. Powell Gallery in honor of General Powell’s lifelong service to the United States as well as his long-standing support of the museum.

General Powell was the first African American to serve as Secretary of State and the first Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to earn his commission through the ROTC. Throughout his military and political careers, he advised numerous presidential administrations and greatly impacted domestic and foreign policy. General Powell was highly decorated as both a soldier and civilian, with domestic and foreign awards including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Presidential Medals of Freedom, the Legion of Honour from France, and the Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) from Great Britain.

General Powell joined NMAAHC in 2010 as a founding Council member and served on the museum’s advisory board for more than a decade. In addition to generous financial contributions, General Powell, his wife, Alma, and their children have also donated over 100 objects to the museum representing Powell’s life and military service. Many of these objects are currently on view in the Double Victory exhibition.


Journey Through the Exhibition

Double Victory Storylines

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Medal of Honor Lens

The Medal of Honor Lens addresses the Medals of Honor awarded to African Americans and interprets what it means to be a Medal of Honor recipient, what is life after the Medal of Honor, and issues of racial biasness in awarding the Medal of Honor. The locations of African American Medal of Honor recipients buried in Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) are offered so visitors can visit the cemetery.

Women in the Military 

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Getty Images/Grinberg, Paramount, Pathe Newsreels

Exhibition Luminaries

John Hanks Alexander

John Hanks Alexander

In 1887 he became the second African American to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point. This uniform belonged to 2nd Lt. John Hanks Alexander, who served in the 9th Cavalry on the western frontier for six years.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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Theophilus Gould Steward

Black Chaplains

From 1884 to World War I, five African American chaplains earned Regular Army commissions: Henry V. Plummer, Allen Allensworth, Theophilus G. Steward (pictured here), George W. Prioleau and William T. Anderson. They were accomplished men in their late thirties and forties (Plummer was 50) when they earned commissions. All were well educated and, with the exception of Steward, born into slavery. Plummer and Allensworth were Civil War veterans.

(Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)
View More about Black Chaplains
Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts

Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts

Among the first American heroes of World War I, Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts, were the first African American Croix de Guerre recipients for bravery in combat. The French commendation honoring the soldiers, in part translates: “a magnificent example of courage and energy.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about Henry Johnson and Needham Roberts
Lawrence McVey

Lawrence McVey

Lawrence McVey was among the soldiers in the 369th Infantry awarded this French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star for bravery in combat.

(Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter)
View More about Lawrence McVey
Major Charity Adams

Major Charity Adams

Maj. Charity Adams was the highest-ranking African American woman during World War II. Adams commanded the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which ensured the delivery of U.S. mail to soldiers in the field.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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Benjamin O. Davis Sr.

Benjamin O. Davis Sr.

After more than 42 years of military service, Benjamin O. Davis became the first African American to earn the rank of general in the U.S. Army in 1940. He is seen here, Aug. 1944, in France. Despite discrimination, Davis persevered through 50 years of military service.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about Benjamin O. Davis Sr.
Dorie Miller

Dorie Miller

Dorie Miller was a steward aboard the USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Like most African Americans in the Navy in 1941, Miller was not trained to fire Navy guns but likely received familiarization training on weapons. Miller shot down at least two Japanese aircraft during the attack, but did not survive the war.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about Dorie Miller
Mary McLeod Bethune

Mary McLeod Bethune

Educator Mary McLeod Bethune advised President Franklin Roosevelt and was a key advocate for African American service members.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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Medgar Evers

Medgar Evers

Like other black GIs, Evers refused to accept second-class status at home and became a leader in the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about Medgar Evers
Dovey Johnson Roundtree

Dovey Johnson Roundtree

World War II veteran Dovey Roundtree used her G.I. Bill to attend Howard Law School. In 1955 she won a landmark case ending racial segregation in interstate bus travel.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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Ensign Jesse Brown

Ensign Jesse Brown

Jesse Brown was the first African American Navy aviator. He died after his plane crash-landed during a mission in Korea on December 4, 1950.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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Alex Haley

Alex Haley

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family served 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he perfected his writing skills as a chief journalist.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
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General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr.

General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr.

Chappie James graduated from Tuskegee in 1942, becoming a Tuskegee Airmen in 1943. In September 1975 he became the first African American four-star general in the military and shared at a retirement news conference that despite the struggles to integrate the military, if he could relive his life, he’d join the Air Force again.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about General Daniel “Chappie” James Jr.
General Colin L. Powell

General Colin L. Powell

Colin Powell graduated from City College of New York in 1958, becoming an infantry lieutenant. He spent two tours in Vietnam and reached four stars in 1989.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about General Colin L. Powell
Cadet Henry O. Flipper

Cadet Henry O. Flipper

In 1877, despite years of discrimination, Henry O. Flipper became the first African American to graduate from West Point. Yet racism limited and eventually derailed his military career.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about Cadet Henry O. Flipper
General Frank E. Petersen

General Frank E. Petersen

General Petersen joined the Navy in 1950 and earned his wings and Marine commission in 1952. He was the first African American to become a Marine fighter pilot and general.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about General Frank E. Petersen
General Hazel W. Johnson

General Hazel W. Johnson

Hazel Johnson was the first African American woman to be named a general in the Army and the first to lead the Army Nurse Corps. General Johnson joined the Army in 1955 and also served as the director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Nursing. Throughout her life she distinguished herself as a military and public health care professional.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)
View More about General Hazel W. Johnson

Exhibition Objects

“The Fifteenth Amendment. Celebrated May 19th 1870”

View Object about “The Fifteenth Amendment. Celebrated May 19th 1870”

Cabinet card of Col. Charles Young as a cadet at West Point, 1889

View Object about Cabinet card of Col. Charles Young as a cadet at West Point, 1889

Montford Point Marines Congressional Gold Medal, 2011

View Object about Montford Point Marines Congressional Gold Medal, 2011

French Croix de Guerre medal issued to Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey, 1918

Gift of Gina R. McVey, Granddaughter
View Object about French Croix de Guerre medal issued to Cpl. Lawrence Leslie McVey, 1918

Medal of Honor bestowed on Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton, 1952

Gift of Ray R. and Patricia A.D. Charlton in memory of Cornelius H. Charlton
View Object about Medal of Honor bestowed on Sergeant Cornelius H. Charlton, 1952

Flight helmet worn by Thunderbird pilot Gen. Lloyd W. Newton, ca. 1974

Gift of General Lloyd "Fig" Newton
View Object about Flight helmet worn by Thunderbird pilot Gen. Lloyd W. Newton, ca. 1974

US Navy dress jumper worn by Lorenzo DuFau on USS Mason, 1944–45

Gift of Lorenzo A. DuFau
View Object about US Navy dress jumper worn by Lorenzo DuFau on USS Mason, 1944–45

US Navy dress uniform hat worn by Admiral Michelle Howard, 1999

Gift of Admiral Michelle J. Howard, U.S. Navy
View Object about US Navy dress uniform hat worn by Admiral Michelle Howard, 1999
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