Posted on Mar 23, 2015
The U.S. Armed Forces: Have You Found A Better Place To Have That Honest Conversation About Race?
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It happened to me this weekend. I had a chance to stop and get a Starbucks! I had forgotten about their new campaign, where their baristas offer to enter into a discussion about racial issues in America with you, the customer; but Lisa, my friendly 20 year-old blonde barista, was undaunted, and offered to enter this vast minefield with me. "Lisa," I began, "What if I were to tell you, of an opportunity to meet and interact with a vast and diverse assortment of people from every state in the nation, plus all U.S. territories; people from every racial and ethnic group; people from most religious faiths; and people from virtually every socioeconomic layer in our society? If I told you such an opportunity existed, Lisa, would you consider looking into it?" She smiled, but looked hesitant. "What is this place?", she asked, tentatively. "It's not so much of a place as it is a thing," I said, "an institution, and one of the oldest in the nation. I'm talking about the U.S. Army, Lisa!" She smiled, more nervously now. "Lisa, if you want the most honest understanding of race in America, you can get it at Basic Training..."
Was I correct? I know that in my case, Basic Training was a significant cultural event when it came to understanding and appreciating others, particularly when it came to matters of race and diversity. Does this still hold true today? Sound off RallyPoint, and let me know what say you!
Was I correct? I know that in my case, Basic Training was a significant cultural event when it came to understanding and appreciating others, particularly when it came to matters of race and diversity. Does this still hold true today? Sound off RallyPoint, and let me know what say you!
Posted in these groups: 
Military Industry
Culture
Military Industry Culture
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 19
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Yes, Sir! I came from a very diverse area in Northern NJ. I was truly astounded at some of the females in my Basic Training/AIT environment that had genuinely not ever come in contact with another race before that. Once I got past the "are you kidding me?", I realized that it was a massive sociological observation for me.
It was actually a very cool time. Aside from normal b*tchy girl stuff, we all got along really well. :)
It was actually a very cool time. Aside from normal b*tchy girl stuff, we all got along really well. :)
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SGM Erik Marquez
Haaa.. and that brings back a Basic Training story,, (I was a Drill Sergeant at Jackson when the gender integrated company stuff started)
Out on the drill pad, second day of phase I, first day of individual drill and ceremonies .
Fairly standard mixture of race in my platoon.
My background, raised by a single mom in California, been in the Army about 12 years at that point. Race??? thats where people compete to finish first right??? .. ohh THAT RACE.. sorry I only give a darn about GREEN.
Anyway, about an hour into individual drill, from the formation I hear.. "Boy, didn't you hear the Drill Sergeant.. he said left foot first boy"
After separating the brawl..and figuring out who said what to who,,,
I had a country kid, never been friends or even close to an acquaintance with a black man before. Other than to drive past up or see across the street... speak to someone in line at a store. just no association . and of course mom, dad, grandpa had some choice words or descriptive talk for them.
End if the day, this young, male, white, country boy intended NO disrespect to the other Soldier, he was speaking in a manner that he was brought up, he had no other frame of mind or experience to draw from. And likewise, the ethnically diverse Soldiers that happened to have dark skin (had to be a dozen "race" or religion types in that platoon of soldiers that had dark or black skin.. so this was not a race thing so much of a color deal) reacted as you would expect, because their upbringing and experience caused them to know no other possibility than the white SM was being disrespectful.
Once we got past that I'd like to say it was a happy ending... kind of was, the platoon graduated 31 of 32.. Young Country boy did just fine in assimilating to the Green way of things. The SM he called boy had other issues and was separated. At the end of Basic training, there appeared to be no race relations problems, no cliques separated by color in "down time" no separation at meal times.. no mysterious moving of bunk assign position overnight... blanket parties.. Hand shakes all around at graduation words of See you after leave, look me up on leave ect...
Country Boy actually did not go home on leave, but with too other platoon mates to their home town and into one of thems Homes.. yes, it was a black family, and they took in that country boy as if he was their own... Race pfffft, only thing momma wanted to know was if he was hungry? and don't let that boy of mine sluff off with his chores while you're here.
Out on the drill pad, second day of phase I, first day of individual drill and ceremonies .
Fairly standard mixture of race in my platoon.
My background, raised by a single mom in California, been in the Army about 12 years at that point. Race??? thats where people compete to finish first right??? .. ohh THAT RACE.. sorry I only give a darn about GREEN.
Anyway, about an hour into individual drill, from the formation I hear.. "Boy, didn't you hear the Drill Sergeant.. he said left foot first boy"
After separating the brawl..and figuring out who said what to who,,,
I had a country kid, never been friends or even close to an acquaintance with a black man before. Other than to drive past up or see across the street... speak to someone in line at a store. just no association . and of course mom, dad, grandpa had some choice words or descriptive talk for them.
End if the day, this young, male, white, country boy intended NO disrespect to the other Soldier, he was speaking in a manner that he was brought up, he had no other frame of mind or experience to draw from. And likewise, the ethnically diverse Soldiers that happened to have dark skin (had to be a dozen "race" or religion types in that platoon of soldiers that had dark or black skin.. so this was not a race thing so much of a color deal) reacted as you would expect, because their upbringing and experience caused them to know no other possibility than the white SM was being disrespectful.
Once we got past that I'd like to say it was a happy ending... kind of was, the platoon graduated 31 of 32.. Young Country boy did just fine in assimilating to the Green way of things. The SM he called boy had other issues and was separated. At the end of Basic training, there appeared to be no race relations problems, no cliques separated by color in "down time" no separation at meal times.. no mysterious moving of bunk assign position overnight... blanket parties.. Hand shakes all around at graduation words of See you after leave, look me up on leave ect...
Country Boy actually did not go home on leave, but with too other platoon mates to their home town and into one of thems Homes.. yes, it was a black family, and they took in that country boy as if he was their own... Race pfffft, only thing momma wanted to know was if he was hungry? and don't let that boy of mine sluff off with his chores while you're here.
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CMSgt (Join to see)
SGM Erik Marquez
My eyes got really big when I read "boy". I completely agree and understand! Once we got through the first few waves of inappropriate but innocuously-executed reference names, we were good to go.
For example, we had a young lady from Kentucky that had been home-schooled (I would need a TOTALLY new thread for that "unique" individual). She didn't understand that "colored" was not an accepted term. She had an inventory of all other issues, but she could not process this as quickly as she should have. Although most of us realized that she was a product of her environment, it was quite a painful process for the Platoon to mend fences.
My eyes got really big when I read "boy". I completely agree and understand! Once we got through the first few waves of inappropriate but innocuously-executed reference names, we were good to go.
For example, we had a young lady from Kentucky that had been home-schooled (I would need a TOTALLY new thread for that "unique" individual). She didn't understand that "colored" was not an accepted term. She had an inventory of all other issues, but she could not process this as quickly as she should have. Although most of us realized that she was a product of her environment, it was quite a painful process for the Platoon to mend fences.
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CMSgt (Join to see)
@SSG James J. Palmer IV
No worries! It didn't show that you did so you told on yourself! Lol
((p.s., I can never tag you for some reason.))
No worries! It didn't show that you did so you told on yourself! Lol
((p.s., I can never tag you for some reason.))
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CSM (Join to see)
CMSgt (Join to see)
Yet another benefit of devouring souls. Once the soul has been devoured everyone is the same
Yet another benefit of devouring souls. Once the soul has been devoured everyone is the same
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I would have to agree (at least during my time in the service). It's interesting that racial and other differences seem to disappear when you're sharing challenges and dangers. The only thing that counts is whether or not you can trust the other person to have your back in a fight.
The same was true in the whaling industry in the 19th Century. Blacks not only served alongside whites (as well as others) on whaling ships. In fact, some even rose to captain whaling ships. Owners were focused on profits and rewarded those who could deliver them http://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/africanamericanhistory.htm
BTW, I never go to Starbucks. I hate paying over-inflated prices for bad coffee. Why do your think they French roast the beans? They're covering up the fact that they're using inferior coffee. Whenever I see someone with a Starbucks cup I think of the children's story, The Emperor's New Suite of Clothes...
The same was true in the whaling industry in the 19th Century. Blacks not only served alongside whites (as well as others) on whaling ships. In fact, some even rose to captain whaling ships. Owners were focused on profits and rewarded those who could deliver them http://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/africanamericanhistory.htm
BTW, I never go to Starbucks. I hate paying over-inflated prices for bad coffee. Why do your think they French roast the beans? They're covering up the fact that they're using inferior coffee. Whenever I see someone with a Starbucks cup I think of the children's story, The Emperor's New Suite of Clothes...
African American History - San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (U.S. National Park...
Seamen on the whaling bark Wanderer make ready to cast off for another voyage. The exact location is unknown, but probably New England.
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MAJ (Join to see)
CPT Jack Durish, I always enjoy the added historical perspective you lend to many discussions; thank you! Oh, and I concur with your take on Starbucks as well, but I have two sisters who think that I am in desperate need of Starbucks gift cards every March for my Birthday.
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