Organization Of Black Maritime Graduates Endorses BLM Movement

With few industry leaders engaging on this topic, where can black mariners turn for guidance and support during these difficult times? What resources are available to those interested in promoting diversity and inclusion in our industry? How can the industry help shipmates in pain right now?

While gCaptain continues to search for answers, the best we can do is point business leaders to highly successful diversity programs in other industries, maritime organizations that promote diversity of all kind, and a few great books about the subject.

Strong leadership is needed especially for the hardest hit by this issue: young maritime students.

The US Naval Academy is currently in turmoil after racist remarks were made by an influential Alumni Association member early this month. Shortly after that, news broke that  US Merchant Marine Academy President Jack Buono released a strong letter of support for minorities after a racially charged video of midshipmen appeared on Twitter. Finally, over two thousand students and alumni have signed a petition for SUNY Maritime to address the issue. Support for the petition has only grown this week after photos of alleged KKK members were found in a 1979 edition of the school yearbook.

While America’s maritime schools work to address these concerns, one entity has taken a step further. The Organization Of Black Maritime Graduates last week issued a letter to maritime students which includes a call to action and a strong statement of support for the Black Lives Matter Movement.

It remains too early to tell what the effect the Black Lives Matter movement will have on our industry, but my hopes remain positive that more leaders will join Captain Cook, and Rear Admirals Buono and Wettlaufer in sending out strong messages of support to minority sailors.

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gCaptain