The Black KnightThe Black Knight
The Blum Show
Col.Clifford Worthy was one of 3 black cadets in his class at West Point during the fifties. A true patriot, he talks about race, the military, and today's human condition.
52:27•4 Sept 2019
The Black Knight: Col. Clifford Worthy on Race, Duty and Seizing Opportunity
Episode Overview
- A random meeting with a West Point cadet shifted Worthy’s path from medicine to a military career.
- He reports limited open racism at West Point after Truman’s integration order, but describes earlier harsh treatment of Black cadets and quieter remnants like segregated rooming.
- Worthy highlights both the confusion and humanity of Vietnam, stressing the ingenuity and compassion of American soldiers.
- He shares the strain and determination involved in raising a son with special needs while repeatedly relocating for service, constantly searching for appropriate care.
- His core advice for young people, especially Black youth, is to be ready for unexpected chances and to push through barriers by focusing on the opportunities that do appear.
“There are still racial barriers… but there are some fair‑minded people. Don’t think only in terms of the bad; look and hope for the best and work for the best.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against discrimination and danger? This episode of The Blum Show follows Col. Clifford Worthy, one of just three Black cadets in his West Point class in the 1950s and a career officer who later commanded troops in Vietnam. You’ll hear how a chance meeting with a young cadet in a crisp West Point uniform completely changed Worthy’s plans from becoming a doctor to joining the military.
He talks plainly about being a Black officer in a segregated America, from cadet housing rules that quietly separated Black students to terrifying moments on the road when even finding a meal or a bed could be life-threatening. At the same time, he stresses the progress he’s seen, especially inside the army, praising what he calls the resourcefulness and heart of American soldiers and the way shared service can cut through prejudice.
Worthy also opens up about raising a son with special needs while serving, constantly hunting for support and treatment as his postings moved the family across the US and Europe. His book, *The Black Knight*, pulls these threads together: race, service, family, and the belief that young people, especially Black boys and girls, should be ready to grab unexpected opportunities and push past the barriers they still face.
As he puts it, there are racial obstacles, but there are also fair-minded people and doors that can open if you’re prepared. If you’re drawn to stories of resilience, identity, and finding a way forward in tough systems, this conversation might leave you asking: how ready are you to seize the next opportunity that lands in your lap?
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