In this episode of The Black Spy Podcast, Carlton King explores the life and times of African American female, retired US Army Colonel, E. W. Cummings.
Listeners learn that from her earliest memories Colonel Cummings was imbibed into the covenant of official secrets.
Colonel Cummings' father, an elite soldier (82nd Airborne), undertook three tours of Vietnam; returning from his last, "more dead than alive".
So years later after gaining a degree from University, it was no surprise when Colonel Cummings followed in her heroic father's foot steps and joined the US military as an Army officer. After all, she believed that the desegregated US military would offer a black person the best chance of progression in the racially charged America of the 60's and 70's.
However, once in the military Colonel Cummings found that it was her gender that appeared to place the greatest barriers to her achieving a successful career.
Nevertheless, she explains how some well placed white male officers helped unlock her latent potential, allowing her to grow into an excellent officer and leader.
We also learn that Colonel Cummings undertook an array of sensitive deployments both in the military and after her retirement, fostering and leading emergency homeland security
liaison, between the military, the FBI and various other Federal Agencies.
Finally, in this amazing interview, we learn of Colonel Cummings' nigh on single handed endeavour to get a congressional gold medal, awarded to the segregated 6888 unit of black female soldiers that saw active duty in Europe, during in WW2. Unfortunately, due to the racist politics of the day, the actions of 6888 were never recognised. So Colonel Cumming wishes to belatedly rectify this, taking the battle for recognition to the US Senate and the House of Representatives.
This is truly another fantastic Black Spy interview from which we all can learn.
Contact Carlton via:
Email: carltonking@Blackspypodcast.com
Twitter: @Carlton_King
Instagram: @carltonkingauthor
Facebook: Carlton King Author
Carlton's Autobiography: "Black Ops - The incredible true story of a British secret agent"
Is available from Amazon and all good online booksellers:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MTV2GDF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_WNZ5MT89T9C14CB53651