There has never been a defining chapter in American military history in which Black service members did not stand on the front lines. From the Revolutionary and Civil War to World Wars I and II, and through the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and the Gulf War, their contributions have profoundly shaped the nation’s present identity.

Nowhere is this testament more vivid than in robust cities like Boston, home to some Tuskegee Airmen, the revered all- Black squadron during World War II, and where the 54th Massachusetts Regiment assembled before heading South to battle in the Civil War. This heritage is not distant memory, but rather a legacy celebrated each February during Black History Month.

However, veterans’ advocates attest that action must go beyond tribute ceremonies, particularly since thousands of African Americans still face persistent disparities in health care, housing and economic opportunities long after their service. These concerns are even more urgent today, given that institutional attention to equity-focused programs and identity-centered initiatives has shifted, leaving some of the city’s most vulnerable veterans at risk of being overlooked.

A persistent burden

To fulfill the demands of military service, enlisted personnel rigorously prepare for dangerous situations, such as high-risk combat missions. However, even as these individuals train for extended periods, many are still caught off guard by the hidden physical, mental and environmental hazards that emerge during active duty.

Service members have frequently encountered toxic exposures because of the armed forces’ heavy reliance on perilous substances during World War II. For instance, Hanscom Air Force Base, located roughly 30 miles outside Boston, has detected alarming asbestos concentrations in its five demolished buildings. Fort Devens-Sudbury Training Annex, situated approximately 20 miles west of Boston, was also designated a Superfund Site due to elevated levels of toxic heavy metals and PFAS, which reached over 27,200 parts per trillion.

These findings suggest that service members deployed at these locations may have been exposed to serious contaminants without adequate protection. The repercussions of these circumstances do not stop at contact — they often trigger a host of life-threatening illnesses, which have disproportionately impacted people of color.

In addition to these physical risks, numerous Black veterans in Boston and across the country also contend with mental health challenges. Research reveals that such personnel are more likely to endure post-traumatic stress disorder and face poorer treatment outcomes than their white counterparts, due to long-standing systemic barriers like racism, segregation, and economic strain.

Financial pressure, in particular, has driven many to the brink of housing instability; national data indicate that African Americans now account for over a third of homeless veterans in the country. As challenges persist, advocates have sounded the alarm to advance initiatives challenging racial disparities for Black veterans.

For years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has sought to improve outcomes for historically underserved populations by implementing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Efforts promoted culturally competent care, targeted outreach and systemic tracking of disparities to ensure that no veteran’s needs were sidelined. Over time, however, such programs were concluded, thereby restructuring the framework through which critical endeavors were delivered.

During this process, the Department of Defense announced that it would not use official resources to support identity-centered commemorations like Black History Month, though service members still have discretion to observe the event individually. At the same time, some content featuring Black veterans was also briefly removed from government websites and later restored after stringent review. Although these initial changes were accordingly part of the transition and aligned with the overall intention to streamline priorities and maintain institutional cohesion, these federal decisions have raised questions about how inequities will be monitored and addressed.

In cities like Boston, where military history involving people of color runs deep, there remains opportunity to hone programs and practices that address disparities in health, housing and economic opportunity while strengthening culturally competent outreach and services. Black History Month, for many, serves both as a time of remembrance but also as a call to sustain attention, reallocate resources and implement measures that help guarantee veterans receive the care and support they need throughout their lives.