Featured Nominee & Sponsor

Donna Nelson

Sergeant Donna Nelson
Veteran | 9 years in the U.S. Army

A former U.S. Army Medic

I joined in 1988, and I served in the Army for nine years. I was an Army medic, and my first assignment was Germany, where I was stationed in Nürnberg in Southern Bavaria. I loved it.

What is your perspective when it comes to black women displaying patriotism?

I see things differently now than I did when I joined the Army, and I am still proud to be an American. At the time, I was very proud of my country, and I couldn’t wait to buy my first home, get an American flag, and fly it out in front of the home.

Now, it kind of has kind of a different meaning. Disruption within our civil system has taken that away and changed it, which drives me crazy. I definitely love the country that I live in, but I want it to be a better country. I know we can be better as a country, especially towards black women and black people as a whole. I’m still proud, but I am definitely torn with the truth and reality of our situations.

Over the last 10 years, I have really taken it upon myself to learn more and educate myself on the things that were not taught to me. I’m not sure whether that was intentional or not. I hadn’t taken the time to learn more about different cultures, particularly African Americans and Native Americans, and the ways we have been oppressed and kept silenced by the dominant group.

I’m a little bit sad that it took me so long to educate myself on these things, but I’m glad that I finally did. Fortunately, in the past couple of years, more things have been brought to light nationally and internationally. I’m glad that many people are waking up and educating themselves because we’re not going to be given the information. We have to seek it ourselves.

change you want to see in the world.”