European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 08, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Blacks in Europe from the cover Force chief master sergeant who lives in Wood Bridge England. England is the Type of country where you can get ahead based on your Johnson explained that he travelled to Many parts of the world during his nearly 27 years in the service and decided that England was the Best place for him. It does t matter who you Are what you Are or where you come from Johnson said. Regardless of what color you arc in England if you be got the ability you can get Johnson is an Independent new car Salesman while working for a British company As a financial consultant. He explained that african americans in the states have a difficult time obtaining this Type of franchise. But being Over in the tax free Market i was accepted on my personal ability not my color he said. Clifford Biggs agreed with this assessment and feels that s one of the biggest advantages for Afri can americans staying in Europe. You Don t worry about race so much Over Here said Biggs 45. It s basically on the same lines As mid America not the Southern Biggs noted that England is not without its own problems with prejudice As Are other places in Europe. There Are so Many Blacks that live Here i guess they British accept you he said. But first off As Long As they find you Are an american and not a jamaican or whatever they Are More ready to meet an Biggs figures that prejudice Over Here stems from not Many europeans having met Black americans when he first landed. When i first went to Greece in the mid 60s, i Don t think that Many Blacks had been stationed there at the time and the greeks were kind of curious he said. They had heard a lot about Blacks but a lot of their attitudes changed once they got to meet people one on he feels that has happened in other countries where Black americans had t been stationed. You be had a lot of jamaican West indians or africans Over Here he said. But they Are a totally different culture than Black americans. Black americans Are definitely in a league of their own dress fashion and the Way they carry Biggs notes that in Mediterranean countries including North Africa where he was stationed Libya and Ethiopia Lack americans were readily accepted. They More or less considered Blacks Ameri cans As a part of them he said. They Are All one family. They Don t really distinguish your birth coun try. And it was the same Way in Italy and have dark Olive coloured he added that since he has been Here he has never run across a problem with racism. For Darnell Phenix a retired technical sergeant the financial Security he has overseas played a big part in staying in England. You can live the sort of life you want to without getting caught up in a rat race Phenix said. Going Back to the states you had to have a certain income in order to live comfortably. Being a retired tech. 1 sergeant i did t think i could go Back to the states and live like i wanted to Phenix is the manager of the cafes shop Pettes at Raf Lakin Heath. And while he did experience prejudice at Home and while in the military he says that s not the big reason he retired in England. When he considers a move to the states he expresses fear about being caught up in this drug you know How it is that when All your neighbors Are doing it they expect you to do it the 55-year old Cincinnati native explained. If you Don t do it then you re in outcast. I found i did t have to put up with that in Johnson 53, said that wanting to be an Independent businessman was another reason for him deciding on England. I m an entrepreneur an Independent. I run this business new car Salesman As an Independent he said. I could t do that in the states because the franchises would t allow $. He said it takes a lot of Money and knowing the inside roads before you can make it As an Independent broker in the states. When i wanted to sell cars they looked at my military Grade Johnson said. Toyota then asked me to sell for them. They never worried about my color. It was based on my Money and Job Security Are helping keep Biggs in England where he owns a House. Being Black at the time i retired really did t have a Factor in it staying hey Biggs said. It was finding a once he found a Job he was Happy. But he had other reasons for staying in England. He was concerned about the crime problem in his Homeland. In the states some areas Are More unsafe than others said Biggs a retired air Force master ser Geant. You be got crime in England but there snot a lot of violent crime like people shooting for drugs unless you live in one of the bigger cities Johnson who was raised in Chicago thought the same thing. There s so much violence in the world today said Johnson. Any place you choose to live now it appears you re in danger. You could be sitting i Mcdonald s in the states and you got a Chance of getting shot just minding your own business. Or you could be sitting on your Steps anywhere in the states and some drive by maniac High on Coke pops a few shots at while All three men agreed that there were employment and financial opportunities available in the states they had various reasons for not pursuing them. I can t say that at that time when he retired opportunities weren t there Phenix said. I was t at that time willing to take the risk. Having retired when you spend so Long in the military you wonder sometimes if there is a future for you when you he alluded to the fact that employers Are looking for younger people usually College graduates. I really did t want to take the risk go Back and have to find something that would provide me with the income to live like i want to live Phenix said. Johnson said he narrowed his retirement places to three choices Italy England or Colorado Springs Colo. If i had retired at Colorado Springs i was going into the real estate business said Johnson who re tired in 1983. I m qualified As a real estate broker in the states. But i could t work an assignment said that All of the senior noncommissioned officer positions in his career Field were Over seas during the Vietnam War. The positions state Side were manned by civilians. He did serve Ato Duluth minn., but that lasted Only six months be fore he was sent Back constant overseas assignments had a Strong bearing on their staying in Europe. I had Only been stationed in the states three times said Biggs. The longest trifle was one year. I did a tour in Vietnam a tour in Okinawa but Theresa of my time has been in Biggs a Gary ind., native works in Lakenheath scentral distribution Center for commissaries in England and is using his skills As a Supply inventor specialist. Why is he sticking around he travelled and quickly fell in love with said Johnson i like this country. It s Nice an quiet. Besides i could t possibly miss the states be cause for the 27 years i was in service i Only spent two years Biggs it s a comfortable feeling being Able to go out and maybe leave your windows open an door unlocked go Down to the Village for 15 min utes come Back and find everything still there. I can t say it s like that for All of England but it s comfortable Here Between Lakenheath and they still maintain close ties with their families Back in the states. I go Back to the states every year and Stop to Seemy family in Cincinnati at least every two years Phenix said. I m part of them and they d rather Mere with them instead of travelling Over Here to see me. All three men have English wives but said that did t influence their decision to wife gets along beautifully with my family said Phenix. She likes the states. I come from a Multi racial neighbourhood and we Veall Learned Tolive together and As far As complaints from african american leaders about the current attitude toward foreigners in Europe Biggs has his own idea. Until they be actually lived Over Here they can Tsay what it s really like he said. I know a lot of Black Guys that retired Here. I think they just like the lifestyle Here compared to where they Are from in the states. I guess they feel at ease living ohm Biggs Ift. Comfor Tab. bang , of go of and a a be Cave your Windo " Page 4 sunday augusts 1993
