Johnson Chesnut Whittaker
Encyclopedia
Johnson Chesnut Whittaker (1858–1931) was one of the first black men to win an appointment to the United States Military Academy
at West Point
. When at the academy, he was brutally assaulted and then expelled after being falsely accused and convicted of faking the incident. Over sixty years after his death, his name was formally cleared when he was posthumously commissioned by President Bill Clinton
.
Plantation in Camden
, South Carolina
. He studied privately with Richard Greener, the first African American
to graduate from Harvard college. Whittaker later attended the University of South Carolina
, then a freedmen's school. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy
at West Point
in 1876 under congressman Solomon L. Hoge
. For most of his time at West Point, he was the only black cadet, and he was ostracized by his white peers.
In the morning of April 5, 1880, he was found tied to his bed, unconscious, bleeding, and bruised. His hands and face had been cut by a razor, and burned pages from his Bible were strewn about his room. Whittaker told administrators that he had been attacked by three fellow cadets, but his account of the morning was not believed. West Point administrators said that he had fabricated the attack to win sympathy. After more than a year of nationally publicized hearings, Whittaker was found guilty in an 1881 court martial and expelled from West Point. The prosecuting attorney was West Point Judge Advocate Major Asa Bird Gardiner
, later a Sachem
of Tammany Hall
in New York and disgraced New York District Attorney, who blatantly talked of the "inferior" and "superior" races and commented that "Negroes are noted for their ability to sham and feign. Though the verdict was overturned in 1883 by President Chester A. Arthur
, West Point reinstated the expulsion on the grounds that Whittaker had failed an exam.
In his later life, Whittaker was a teacher, lawyer, high school principal in Oklahoma City, and psychology professor in South Carolina. He died in 1931.
His two sons served as Army officers in World War I, a grandson joined the all-black Tuskegee Airmen in World War II and a great-grandson served as first lieutenant in the Vietnam-era Army.
On July 25, 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded the commission to Whittaker's heirs, saying, "We cannot undo history. But today, finally, we can pay tribute to a great American and we can acknowledge a great injustice."
in Pasadena, California.
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. When at the academy, he was brutally assaulted and then expelled after being falsely accused and convicted of faking the incident. Over sixty years after his death, his name was formally cleared when he was posthumously commissioned by President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
.
Biography
Whittaker was born into slavery on the ChesnutJames Chesnut, Jr.
James Chesnut, Jr. of Camden, South Carolina, was a planter, lawyer, United States Senator, a signatory of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America, and a Confederate States Army general...
Plantation in Camden
Camden, South Carolina
Camden is the fourth oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and is also the county seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States. The population was an estimated 7,103 in 2009...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. He studied privately with Richard Greener, the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to graduate from Harvard college. Whittaker later attended the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, then a freedmen's school. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
in 1876 under congressman Solomon L. Hoge
Solomon L. Hoge
Solomon Lafayette Hoge was a lawyer, soldier, judge and politician in Ohio and South Carolina.Hoge was born in Pickrelltown, Ohio, and he received his early childhood education at the public schools in the nearby city of Bellefontaine...
. For most of his time at West Point, he was the only black cadet, and he was ostracized by his white peers.
In the morning of April 5, 1880, he was found tied to his bed, unconscious, bleeding, and bruised. His hands and face had been cut by a razor, and burned pages from his Bible were strewn about his room. Whittaker told administrators that he had been attacked by three fellow cadets, but his account of the morning was not believed. West Point administrators said that he had fabricated the attack to win sympathy. After more than a year of nationally publicized hearings, Whittaker was found guilty in an 1881 court martial and expelled from West Point. The prosecuting attorney was West Point Judge Advocate Major Asa Bird Gardiner
Asa Bird Gardiner
Asa Bird Gardiner was a controversial American soldier, attorney, and prosecutor. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the American Civil War in 1872, it was rescinded when the supporting documentation was not found...
, later a Sachem
Sachem
A sachem[p] or sagamore is a paramount chief among the Algonquians or other northeast American tribes. The two words are anglicizations of cognate terms from different Eastern Algonquian languages...
of Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
in New York and disgraced New York District Attorney, who blatantly talked of the "inferior" and "superior" races and commented that "Negroes are noted for their ability to sham and feign. Though the verdict was overturned in 1883 by President Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
, West Point reinstated the expulsion on the grounds that Whittaker had failed an exam.
In his later life, Whittaker was a teacher, lawyer, high school principal in Oklahoma City, and psychology professor in South Carolina. He died in 1931.
His two sons served as Army officers in World War I, a grandson joined the all-black Tuskegee Airmen in World War II and a great-grandson served as first lieutenant in the Vietnam-era Army.
Posthumous commission
In the 1970s, a book about Whittaker by John Marszalek, a historian at Mississippi State University, drew attention to his case. It was not until 1994, however, when a television movie based on the book aired, that a movement for his posthumous commission gained ground.On July 25, 1995, President Bill Clinton awarded the commission to Whittaker's heirs, saying, "We cannot undo history. But today, finally, we can pay tribute to a great American and we can acknowledge a great injustice."
In popular culture
There is now a drama production known as Matter of Honor, that retells Whittaker's story while at West Point. It plays at the Pasadena PlayhousePasadena Playhouse
The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...
in Pasadena, California.
See also
- Henry Ossian FlipperHenry Ossian FlipperHenry Ossian Flipper was an American soldier and though born into slavery in the American South, was the first African American to graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1877 at the age of 21 and earn a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.Following Flipper's...
first African American to graduate from West Point, Class of 1877
Further reading/viewing
, the TV movie that drew attention to Whittaker's case.- Marszalek, John. Assault at West Point: The Court Martial of Johnson Whittaker. Touchstone (1994). ISBN 0020345151.
- Marszalek, John. "A Black Cadet at West Point." American Heritage Magazine.
- Chepiga, Michael "Matter of Honor," a stage play produced at Pasadena PlayhousePasadena PlayhouseThe Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engagements each year.-History:...
in September 2007 - Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson WhittakerAssault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson WhittakerAssault at West Point is a 1994 television docudrama about Johnson Chesnut Whittaker, one of the first black cadets at West Point, and the trial that followed an assault he suffered. The film features Samuel L. Jackson, who portrays a lawyer who defends Whittaker.-Plot:Johnson Whittaker, a black...