Celebrate Black History Month with “We Earn Our Stripes,” a new song by Career Communications Group CEO Tyrone Taborn honoring Black soldiers, sailors, and airmen.

Composed by YourSongmaker, the lyrics reflect on the challenges faced by Black servicemen and honor the fallen, veterans, and active-duty servicemen and women who have made significant contributions to the U.S.

During World War II, over 2.5 million African American men registered for the draft, and Black women also volunteered in large numbers. They served America with distinction, made valuable contributions to the war effort, and earned high praise and commendation for their bravery and sacrifice.

By the end of the war, more than 695,000 Black Americans were serving in the U.S. military, leading to President Truman’s desegregation of the military in 1948.

Today, there are thousands of Black officers in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard.

Although Black officers make up less than 6 percent at the highest levels, there are more African Americans in the military’s top ranks than there are Black executives on the highest rungs of corporate America. That’s why the Stars & Stripes program at the Black Engineer of the Years Awards (BEYA) STEM Conference is an integral part of the annual event.

Each year, Career Communications Group’s US Black Engineer magazine features two of its most powerful lists, which include 100+ African Americans in the U.S. military and the federal Senior Executive Service.

USBE‘s annual defense leadership series lists the highest-ranking generals and admirals. These brave and dedicated men and women play critical roles in all U.S. military commands.

According to the Library of Congress, Black History celebrations had their beginnings in 1925 with an announcement by Carter G. Woodson’s Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

Fifty years later,  the association held the first Black History Month. Since then each American president has issued Black History Month proclamations, notes Daryl Michael Scott in an essay for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.