Two members of the Golden 13, the first African-American officers in U.S. naval history, will be at NIU tonight to share their firsthand experiences with racism in the military.

The Golden 13 were commissioned by a Navy in which African-Americans could rise no higher than stewards and messmen.

Two of these historically significant men, Jesse Arbor and Robert Lofton, will be speaking about their experiences at 7:30 tonight in the Capitol Room of the Holmes Student Center. Earnest Norman Taylor Jr., an active naval commander, also will guest speak at the event.

Van Amos, programming coordinator for the Center for Black Studies, said the presentation is free and open to the public.

“This is part of the celebration of Black History Month,” Amos said. “They will be speaking about their contributions and achievements.”

These men overcame racial barriers and contributed significantly to the history of America and broke down many barriers in the armed forces,” Amos said.

The Golden 13 never went into combat after being commissioned. Most of the group were assigned to shore duty and only one member stayed in the Navy.

Frank E. Sublett, another member of the famous 13, was quoted in an article in Wednesday’s edition of the Chicago Sun-Times as saying, “The Navy didn’t use us well.”

Looking back, he said, “Being in the Navy was the outstanding thing that happened to me in my lifetime.”

These men helped open doors for many black servicemen who would soon follow.

According to the Sun-Times article, Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Golden 13 “helped to change the very face of America’s military.

“And they recognized that on their shoulders would climb generations of men and women … including a skinny 7-year-old kid in the Bronx named Colin Powell.”

Tonight, these members of the legendary Golden 13 will be addressing the obstacles they overcame and some of the good and bad points of those obstacles.

In the Sun-Times article, Arbor said, “We learned to walk so that the ones behind us could run. The black officers today express their appreciation when they see us. That’s my reward.”

The Navy still has not opened their arms to African-American officers the way the Army has, but more than 3,000 black naval officers are on duty today.

And, as Powell has said, these men “have walked through the door that the Golden 13 opened.”