"The color of a man's skin" was no more an indication of his worth than the cut or trimmings of his coat. Statement by Captain Oliver Hazard Perry 1813 The issue of slavery at last came to a head in the Civil War. The South could not accept a Republican president whose program was clearly aimed at preventing the spread of slavery in the western territories. For President Lincoln, the aim of war was not the abolition of slavery but the preservation of the Union. The war, which was fought on three fronts (Virginia, the Mississippi valley, and along the coast of the Confederacy), traumatized the entire country. Although over 600,000 died, the American window of opportunity opened for the American Negro.... During the past 10 to 15 years there has become an interest in the plight of the Negro Soldier. Where he once stood in the shadows of White Soldiers he is now in the forefront with documented evidence proving that he was as worthy as his counterparts. I have shown the mistreatment of blacks in past wars and the bravery, gallantry, and expert use of weaponry in combat situations. Leaders who understood the need for the nation to move forward and stop segregation gave Black Soldiers a chance. Great minds of the past made this happen. Soldiers such as Carter and Rivers were not the only black heroes of wars past. There were many others and more will follow. Given an opportunity, any man can achieve greatness, whether it's in the home, town, city, sports, or fighting wars on foreign soil. Heroes are taught, not born.

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