As Da 5 Bloods Hits Netflix, Black Vietnam Veterans Recall

the Real Injustices They Faced During and After the War

 

It’s often said that relationships between soldiers transcend race. Movies, books and personal testimonies have told us repeatedly that when two people fight for their lives alongside each other, a lasting sense of camaraderie and understanding is forged between them, regardless of background.

 

But many Black veterans of the Vietnam War have told a different story. Although many formed enduring interracial friendships while fighting overseas, inequities and blatantly racist treatment stained their experiences both during and after the war. In Vietnam, they were disproportionately sent to the front lines, jailed or disciplined at a higher rate and promoted less often.

 

Source:

Time online

By Andrew R. Chow and Josiah Bates

June 12, 2020 10:16 AM EDT

https://time.com/5852476/da-5-bloods-black-vietnam-veterans/