"Come Out Fighting"
Mission
The mission of DC-761, the DC Chapter of the National African American gun association, is to educate our community on the rich legacy of African American gun ownership while offering education, training, support, safety standards, and cultural inspiration.
DC-761 believes in preservation of the African American community through armed protection and community building and advocates for the inalienable right to self-defense for African Americans.
Education. Training. Safety. Self-Defense. Advocacy. For and By African Americans.
Vision
The National African American Gun Association provides a network for all African American firearm owners, gun clubs and outdoor enthusiasts. The goal of the National African American Gun Association is to have every African American introduced to firearm use for home protection, competitive shooting, and outdoor recreational activities.
DC-761 seeks to bring the mission of the National African American gun association to the unique context of Washington, DC in service of actualizing NAAGA's mission here in the nation's capital.
The 761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers
In October of 1944, the 761st tank battalion became the first African American tank battalion to see combat in World War II. And, by the end of the war, the Black Panthers had fought their way further east than nearly every other unit from the United States, receiving 391 decorations for heroism. They fought in France and Belgium, and were one of the first American battalions to meet the Russian Army in Austria. They also broke through Nazi Germany’s Siegfried line, allowing General George S. Patton‘s troops to enter Germany. During the war, the 761st participated in four major Allied campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge, the last major German World War II campaign on the Western Front. Germany’s defeat in this battle is widely credited with turning the tide of the war towards an Allied victory.
After the war the Army awarded the unit with four campaign ribbons. In addition, the men of the 761st received a total of 11 Silver Stars, 69 Bronze Stars and about 300 Purple Hearts. Back at home, though, the surviving members of the 761st returned from Europe to a still-segregated nation. Texas native Staff Sgt. Floyd Dade Jr. described the contradictions for black soldiers coming back to the United States in an oral history, saying “we didn’t have equal rights…democracy was against us. I was just fighting for my country.”