Have you ever experienced racism in the Military?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 08:05:36 -0400

As a leader, could you recognize potential acts racism amongst Soldiers in your unit and if so, how would you handle it?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 25 at 2015 8:09 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 08:09:38 -0400

Zero Tolerance! Send to Capt's Mass!

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 25 at 2015 8:09 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 08:09:47 -0400

Yes I have. I'm married to a black woman, and a black Sailor found out and started raising holy hell. I handled it informally and basically told him that if he didn't curtail his mouth he'd find himself in front of the Captain before he could blink.

Response by MSgt David Haupt made Jun 25 at 2015 8:50 AM

MSgt David Haupt — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 08:50:33 -0400

YES. I never knew it at the time but Yes. It was not through another military member but when I was in Guam. The younger locals started calling us Howees (spelling not to sure of).

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 9:17 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 09:17:57 -0400

Witnessed a First Sergeant during in ranks inspection sound off he said that this young black female was a fine soldier. Just like he liked his coffee Hot n Black. Complaint was made and after he decided to do a midnight room check of the barracks while intoxicated. His punishment. Letter of reprimand and they moved him to headquarters.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 9:30 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 09:30:20 -0400

CW3 Tiaqunia,
Unfortunately, the U.S Army Soldiers are a part of our society meaning that since racism, bigotry and insensitivity exist in our society, there are present in our ranks as well. A smart man once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” As a team leader I pressed on my team the need to treat everyone with respect and dignity. As a leader you should have the personal courage and integrity to swiftly act when there are any indications that racism is present in your unit DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY make inquiries, conduct appropriate investigations and take the necessary actions.
On another we have to be careful not to mistake lack of performance with racism. I have seen where Soldiers blame their failure on racism.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 25 at 2015 9:44 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 09:44:20 -0400

I haven't seen any racism however, I have seen many times ignorant, racial remarks. I also have seen sexism and religious discrimination.

Response by SPC Robert Greenly made Jun 25 at 2015 9:46 AM

SPC Robert Greenly — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 09:46:49 -0400

Heavly. Reverse racism is so bad in the Army.

Response by SCPO Lee Pradia made Jun 25 at 2015 9:57 AM

SCPO Lee Pradia — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 09:57:31 -0400

After 24 yrs I've experienced some. When I was Command Chief on a ship, I was talking to a junior guy about hygiene, privately I may ad and very respectful, later on in the smoking area with his peers, he told them, "I hate that black effing n word". Now all the witnesses were white. They had intagrity, needless to say he went to Captains Mast/NJP, publicly. I had no anger towards him, he was just ignorant, so I took him under my wing and educated him. Taught him that most of us were good people and he should know that. He became a decent sailor. I remember, the guys had a discussion about soul food, he didn't think there was such a thing, so he come to ask me. That's what I wanted him to do, if he had any questions about anything, come and ask, we'll talk about it, and he'll find out the truth. I thought him that we are different, but we're the same. See, according to him, first time he ever seen people of different races was in boot camp, imagine that? He thought it was ok, because that's what he saw on TV. We learned a lot about each other over 3 yrs. That was a positive story. I have some not so positive as well, I prefer this one.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2015 12:30 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 12:30:59 -0400

My experience may be anecdotal but in the last few years where I worked only with SSGs and above I see much more mutual respect, inclusiveness and team work. It was in the trenches so to speak that I saw a clear division among racial lines.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 25 at 2015 2:50 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 14:50:12 -0400

I would make it as painful as I can to the perp, as I abhor discrimination of any sorts. Blood makes no discrimination of the color of one's skin.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Jul 18 at 2015 12:17 PM

SPC Andrew Griffin — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 12:17:53 -0400

Yes I have throughout my entire time in the National Guard. But for some strange reason it is widely accepted. Sometimes it goes unnoticed.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jul 21 at 2015 3:36 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 03:36:37 -0400

Every time I hear an African - American soldier use the "N" word I see it as a racist act. I see it as an act in which defies my personal set of values and norms and of course Army values. I do not tolerate any service member from saying that word. I once made an on the spot correction on an American - American Soldier who used the "N" word and he tried to justify it by the fact he was "black" and the use of context made it okay. I admonished him and that he should repeat his excuse during for an EO complaint investigation.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Jul 21 at 2015 10:57 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 10:57:12 -0400

Yes. How to handle it depends on the circumstances. In one case Administrative Punishment was applied, in all other cases that I have personally dealt with, via counseling.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Oct 8 at 2015 1:32 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 13:32:24 -0400

At the time a fellow SSG, had requested joint domicile to be with his wife, it looked like it was going to be granted, he gave up his apartment. and low and behold they reassigned her to where he was. No place was going to open up for a few months. I had a two bedroom place, told him he could crash with me. They were black, I didn't care, it was someone who was in a bind. They lived with me for close to two months. Because of our schedules we didn't see each other all the time. One day a Black Specialist asked the Sergeant if he had found my "Klan robes in the back of the closet." Suffice to say that soldier got his tail section lit up from one of our little detachment to the other. He stated, "There a lot of people here black and white living in bigger places, with rooms to spare, and not one of them offered. This guy is sleeping in a kids room, and is being a gracious host." I gave me a different perspective that day, I can't describe. I never thought of it that way, I just looked at it as a friend in need.

Response by CPO Darryl Patrick made Oct 2 at 2016 5:21 PM

CPO Darryl Patrick — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 17:21:08 -0400

Of course. MANY times. But the ones I've seen have been much more damaging in terms of its overall effects at keeping the higher ranks overly white in terms of the number of qualified minorities to choose from. These cases stated here are mostly benign, knuckle-headed cases mostly due to ignorance. Casual racism. The more damaging and egregious ones I witnessed were the ones that keep white supremacy the real religion of America.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2017 5:22 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 17:22:28 -0500

Just the occasional stereotypical comment. During a conversation with a Puerto Rican soldier and a Native American soldier, the comment was made that young black soldiers typically spend all their money on expensive cars that they can't afford.

I countered the stereotypical statement by stating that I have seen many white and Hispanic soldiers driving F 250s and Silverado's that I know they can't afford based on their years of service and the pay chart. I told them that it isn't a race thing as much as it is something you typically see from junior NCOs and below (E6 and below)

Response by SP5 Annzala Pitt made Jul 31 at 2017 11:53 PM

SP5 Annzala Pitt — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 23:53:37 -0400

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Response by SP5 Annzala Pitt made Jul 31 at 2017 11:56 PM

SP5 Annzala Pitt — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 23:56:23 -0400

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