On This Day in 1872: James Henry Conyers Enters the U.S. Naval Academy

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An entrance to the U.S. Naval Academy campus is shown in Annapolis, Maryland, on Jan. 9, 2014. James Henry Conyers became the academy's first Black midshipman in 1872. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
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(AURN News) — On Oct. 5, 1872, James Henry Conyers made history as the first Black midshipman to enter the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Just 16 years old, Conyers had been appointed by South Carolina Congressman Robert B. Elliott during Reconstruction.

His arrival broke a racial barrier, but his time at the academy was marked by relentless hostility. Conyers faced isolation, racist harassment and physical hazing from fellow midshipmen, even as academy officials at times attempted to protect him.

The abuse eventually took its toll. Conyers resigned from the Naval Academy in November 1873 without graduating.

Several other Black men followed in the years ahead, but none completed the program.

It would take more than seven decades before Wesley A. Brown became the first Black graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1949, marking another milestone in American military history.

Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane
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