How does military service collide with Black identity in a racially stratified America? Black Veteranality is an examination of the intersection of race, patriotism, and military service from the perspective of Black veterans, offering a robust framework for reimagining American patriotism and reframing veteran identity. Black veteranality emerges through an interdisciplinary synthesis of W.E.B. DuBois foundational concept of double-consciousnessthe psychological duality Black Americans experience when negotiating racialized identity formationsand Veteran Critical Theorys structural analysis of institutional power dynamics shaping military service members. Through critical ethnography and narrative interviews, this conceptual framework interrogates monolithic veteran narratives by documenting how Black servicemembers simultaneously embody patriotic ideals through military service while confronting systemic racisms psychological toll and navigate what critical race scholars term the White gazea hegemonic social mechanism that perpetuates exclusion through perpetual scrutiny of Black veterans cultural authenticity and national belonging. Essential reading for scholars of African American studies, American Studies, Veteran Studies, and military professions, this work bridges academia and activism, proving true loyalty lies in confronting systemic inequities.
Black Veteranality is an examination of the intersection of race, patriotism, and military service from the perspective of Black veterans, offering a robust framework for reimagining American patriotism and reframing veteran identity.
Prologue: Shifting the Lens on Black Military Service and Veteran
Identity
Introduction: Beneath the Surface: Black Veterans, Patriotism, and the
Lega-cy of Marion, Indiana
1. Patriotic Dilemma: The Intersection of Race, Ethics, and Patriotism in
America2. Patriotic Dilemma: Black Veterans Dual Burden at the Intersection
of Race Patriotism
3. Patriotism, Veteran Identity, and Blackness: Intersecting and Conflicting
Identities4. Moral Injury at the Intersection of Race and Patriotism5. Black
Veteranality: Navigating the Intersections of Race, Patriotism, and Moral
Injury in Military Service and Beyond6. The Evolving Landscape of Black
Veteranality in a Post-2024 America
Bryon L. Garner, a veteran studies scholar, examines the intersections of race, patriotism, and military service by introducing his Black veteranality framework. A U.S. Navy veteran, his academic work synthesizes VCT and critical race theory to analyze systemic inequities within military and veteran culture. His scholarship challenges conventional narratives of patriotism in America by centering marginalized veterans lived experiences, revealing how institutional practices within the armed services perpetuate racial disparities despite meritocratic ideals. Dr. Garners research informs policy discussions on veteran healthcare access and advocates for equitable recognition of diverse service members contributions to national identity. Through an innovative blending of personal narrative and structural analysis, Dr. Garner advances the understanding of veteranality as a fluid construct shaped by race, gender, and societal perceptions of service. His work continues to reframe academic and public conversations about military service, veteran identity, and racial justice in America.
