LOS ANGELES — Harmony Music has always played a role in Carlton Griffin’s life, but singing took on a profound significance in his journey to healing after returning from the Vietnam War.
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Enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 20 in 1971, just two years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., Griffin completed three tours overseas before coming home in 1975. Back in the U.S., he grappled with the mental toll of war compounded by the challenges of enduring racism as a Black man.
Harmony
Reintegrating into society proved to be a formidable challenge for Griffin, leading to periods of homelessness, addiction, and incarceration over the next 25 years.
However, in the late 2000s, a beacon of hope emerged for him in the form of the New Directions Choir, an A cappella group for veterans supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Carlton Griffin’s life has been a testament to the transformative power of music, particularly singing, as a means of healing and finding hope. His journey, marked by the challenges of post-war reintegration and the burdens of racial adversity, took a positive turn in the late 2000s with his discovery of the New Directions Choir.
This A cappella group, backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, became a source of solace and inspiration, illustrating the potential for music to play a vital role in the recovery and resilience of those who have faced the hardships of war and discrimination. Griffin’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact that the arts, in this case, music, can have on individuals navigating the complexities of life after military service.
