By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Political Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
Credit: Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Edna W. Cummings
As 2024 kicks off, the AFRO takes a look back at the person who truly stood out in 2023, making a difference in the lives of others and affecting actual change in the communities they serve. This year’s honoree, U.S. Army Col. (Ret.) Edna W. Cummings, has contributed much to veterans in Maryland and throughout the United States.
Cummings was vital in getting legislation passed in 2023 to establish a day recognizing the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, a majority African-American women’s battalion from World War II.
The battalion reported to Birmingham, England, in 1945, where they worked in eight-hour shifts, seven days a week, to eliminate two years worth of backlogged mail. The 6888th were given six months to send all the accumulated mail— they did it in three.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity to share the story and thankful for the community of supporters, that includes descendants,” said Cummings.
Her years of contributions to educating people about the 6888th and the overall service of Black women in the military make her an excellent fit for the “AFRO Person of the Year” title.
In the past, Cummings has received several awards and accolades for her work in honoring the women of the 6888th. She won the NAACP’s Jesse Brown Leadership Award in 2022 and became a Military Officers Association of America Changemaker on the national level in 2023.
Cummings has a vast armed forces background, from being raised on military bases by her mother, Jessie Cummings, and father, Sgt. (Ret.) Willie Cummings.
“I was born on a military base at Fort Bragg, which is now Fort Liberty, in North Carolina. Bases are my childhood,” said Cummings.
She eventually found herself entering the “family business.” Upon graduating high school, she joined an Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at Appalachian State University in 1974.
Unbeknownst to her at the time, she became the first African-American female to enroll in the program and receive a commission as an officer.
“My first assignment was at a school in Fort Lee, Va. After I graduated from that course, I became a quartermaster officer. I was then assigned to Fort Novosel, Ala. I was in charge of refueling helicopters for the students going through flight school,” said Cummings. “I did that for a while, and then I worked as an executive officer for a unit of air traffic controllers.”
Cummings said being a woman in the military was the most challenging aspect of her 25-year career with the armed forces.
“The Army wasn’t accustomed to women when I first came in. I came in on the tail end of the Women’s Army Corps,” said Cummings. “The Army, I think, was unclear about how to integrate women in the ranks. Then to add race – it became even more challenging.”
“Sometimes I was the only Black person and the only woman, and I just felt that I had to be so thorough and detailed because no matter what I did, I would be challenged,” she continued.
Cummings said women were often put in units where combat was not probable, leaving them to get fewer promotions. Still, she was able to climb the ranks and became a colonel in 2001.
Sometime after her military career ended, Cummings discovered the story of the 6888th Battalion.
“I started working on the 6888th project in 2018,” said Cummings. “I was so impressed because of the commander, Charity E. Adams. Some of her experiences were similar to mine— like not being saluted and people not believing I was an officer when I came on active duty. Even though hers was from 1945 – there were many parallels. I took it upon myself to be part of a community to uplift these Black women.”
In 2023, she helped make a day of recognition for the 6888th in Maryland. The 6888th will be commemorated every year in the state on March 9 moving forward.
“Col. Edna Cummings has been a staunch advocate for telling the 6888th story and advocating for women Veterans,” said Del. Mike Rogers (D-Md.-32), who sponsored the legislation for the 6888th Battalion Day.
In 2023, Cummings also worked to bring the 6888th Broadway musical production to fruition.
“I’m honored to work with actor Blair Underwood on the musical. It embraces how the AFRO told the story of the 6888th. Had it not been for the Black press sending reporters overseas to cover the war – these stories would be lost.”
Cummings said they are hoping to bring the musical to the stage and tour in 2025.
“Musicals can take up to ten years, but we’re ahead of schedule now,” she said.
Cummings explained what’s next for her.
“My personal goal is to stay healthy enough to participate in the activities because we plan to tour the musical. We’re going to start in Birmingham, England,” she said. “I also want to stay healthy to continue elevating this narrative and making people aware of the contributions of these phenomenal women.”
For all of her work in the state of Maryland and beyond, the AFRO commends Col. (Ret.) Edna Cummings, and names her AFRO Person of the Year.
Tashi McQueen is a Report for America corps member.
The post Retired Col. Edna Cummings named AFRO Person of the Year appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers.
