New Books in Critical Theory Bryon L. Garner, "Black Veteranality: Military Service and the Illusion of Inclusive Patriotism" (Routledge, 2025)
Aug 13, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Bryon L. Garner, a former Navy serviceman and author of *Black Veteranality*, delves into the nuanced relationship between race and American patriotism. He candidly shares personal stories and sheds light on the moral injuries faced by Black veterans. The conversation highlights their complex identity, the struggle against systemic biases, and the need for a more inclusive narrative of military service. Garner advocates for recognizing the overlooked contributions of Black veterans while confronting the realities of exclusion in a country that claims to embody inclusivity.
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Patriotism Varies By Racial Experience
- Patriotism is experientially different for Black Americans because origin stories and cultural references exclude them.
- Bryon L. Garner argues this racialized framing changes why and how Black people relate to national belonging.
Service As An Aspiration For Justice
- Black military service often carries an aspirational quality: serve now to claim fuller citizenship later.
- Garner traces this thread from Revolutionary-era service through modern conflicts as a recurring motive.
The White Reference Frame Of Patriotism
- Patriotism is coded through a white reference frame via origin stories and cultural symbols.
- Garner says mainstream patriotic imagery and music (e.g., country music) center white cultural points of reference.
