4 - The Black Vault

THE BDM CORPORATION
require examination. An inequity may indicate a phenomenon that is perfectly
rational and explainable. For example, an increase in disciplinary
action against a particular racial or ethnic group may have been the result
of a barroom brawl at a club primarily frequented by members of that group.
The data may also indicate the subtle influence of personal or inbtitutional
racism directed against the members of that group.
The racial statistical
data raise the command awareness of the racia: influences within the
unit.
The Army
It was designed to raise command
instituted a Race Relations/Equal Opportunity Program.
awareness of racial differences and to
reduce racial tension by developing a cultural understanding of different
races and ethnic backgrounds. Initially, the program was not well received
within the military. individuals were required to attend short, but frequent
seminars.
These were almost invariably conducted by uncrained volunteers.
They tended to be black. White soldiers resented the seminars
because they focused almost exclusively on black problems. No attempt was
made to explain the white point of view to black soldiers.
Black soldiers
resented the program because they knew that their problem was not with the
white soldiers; their problem was with the commanders, who seldom attended
the seminars.
They saw the seminars as doing nothing to correct the problems.
Other soldier- resented the program because problems of their
ethiic groups were seldom addressed. Commanders resented the programn
because they did not like to be told they had a problem. They aiso
resented the time taken from other :nit functions for seminar attendance.
In 1971 the Department of Defense established the Defense Race
Relations Institute (DRRI). This is an eight-week school. Its function is
to train Race Relations Spejialists i.1 the cultural difTerences of each
race and ethnic group represented in the military
The students received
instruction and practical experience with semiiar-leading procedures,
complaint investigation and data interpretation.
The Army
its race relations programs.
continued to rely upon motivated volunteers to manage
The majority of these volunteers were black,
and even though an increasing percentage of the race relations specialists
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