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President Bill Clinton honors deceased Black West Point cadet John Whittaker.
1995 (Oct)
In 1876 John Chestnut Whittaker entered the West Point Military Academy as one of the school's first Black cadets. Four years later, shortly before graduation, Whittaker was mutilated, beaten, and left for dead by three white classmates. Although the Black cadet survived the racially motivated attack, he was expelled from the academy after being accused of inflicting the injuries upon himself and then claiming the white cadets were responsible. Prevented from a military career, Whittaker began a law practice in Charleston, South Carolina, before becoming a principal in Oklahoma City and then a law professor at what is now South Carolina State University. Sixty-four years after his death in 1931, Whittaker was honored with a commission as second lieutenant by President Bill Clinton, who made the presentation to the cadet's granddaughter and great-grandson.
References:
- • Hornsby, Alton. Chronology of African-American History: Significant Events and People from 1619 to the Present. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.