3 quotes
The Burden of Representation in the Army
Charity Adams
You're not only in the Army, you're women, and you're Negros. And because you're Negros and women you don't have the luxury to be as good as the white soldiers, you have the burden to be better. Remember, you're not only representing America, you're representing the Negros of America.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Defying Stereotypes: A Stand Against Prejudice
Charity Adams
They're already of the opinion that the Negro woman is dumb, inferior and lazy. And I'll be damned it I allow a woman in my unit to prove them correct!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Examining Letters for Missing Soldiers
General Halt
Are you opening and reading this man?
Charity Adams
So, only in the case where we cannot locate the soldier, sir.
General Halt
Are you kidding me? Y'all opening and reading the letters of these white soldiers?
Charity Adams
Well, sir, sometimes that is the only way to get the clues to find out where they might be.
General Halt
This is private, Major. Have you lost what little left of your mind? I tried to go over my head, get soldiers buried that he had killed. He got damn killed because you did not train them well! So now, President Roosevelt has died. This little experiment gonna be shut down immediately. I think I'm gonna have you relieved the young duties, and I'm gonna bring a white lieutenant to here to show you how to run this unit.
Charity Adams
Over my dead body, sir.
General Halt
What did you say?
[walks into Adams' face]
Charity Adams
Sir, with all due respect, my battalion is working day and night in horrible conditions. We have no heat most of the time. It gets so cold that the women have to put the water in helmets to wash themselves. You gave us this place to turn into a barracks with no bed and no help, and my women are harassed , and then they are befriended only to be asked if they have tails under their skirts after midnight because of the rumors of white soldiers! You sent a chaplain not to pray, but to spy on us! We just lost two soldiers to a UXB who were highly trained, and I know because I trained them and you wouldn't even give the orders for them to have a proper burial! Now, I know we are fighting a war, but our war starts with being Negro! We are fighting on every front! So as I said, sir, over my dead body, sir.
[Halt, stunned by Adams' words, backs away from her]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.