When the room looks just like you, you have a problem
I completed basic training at FT Sill, Oklahoma. My first week was orientation. The first week is NOT basic training. It’s where you get your uniform and gear before basic actually starts, which was across the railroad tracks. The first day everyone sat where they felt most comfortable. There were pockets of every race known to man. A Sergeant stepped out and one of the first things he said was, “OK, I see I gotta teach ya’ll something. I know back home you only hang around people from your neighborhood or people the same race and color as you, but in the Army everybody is green. So I want ya’ll to move from where you are and intermingle with someone that’s not like you.”
It was uncomfortable. My battle buddy was a white guy 10 years older than me. His last name was Shaw. Man, I remember thinking, “This is going to be interesting.”
Dude, to my surprise having Shaw as a battle buddy helped me get through the tough times of basic. He understood what was going on in basic. He would see me stressing out and would say, “It’s just a mind game. They just doing this to mess with us.” I was freaking out until he helped me understand HELL WEEK wasn’t forever.
Sure enough, things calmed down and basic became a big game. After week six our bodies got used to taking a beating. My battle buddy and I gave each other high fives while the drill sergeant had his back turned. We were getting ‘smoked’ and smiling when the drill sergeant wasn’t looking. It was an interesting experience.
My whole career, people from different backgrounds took me under their wings and showed me the way.
People who helped me and continue to help me come from all backgrounds and races. We’re not all green (I’m black) but understanding we all bleed the same gives a common ground of understanding.
When it comes to making it in life I choose to be color blind.
It was uncomfortable. My battle buddy was a white guy 10 years older than me. His last name was Shaw. Man, I remember thinking, “This is going to be interesting.”
Dude, to my surprise having Shaw as a battle buddy helped me get through the tough times of basic. He understood what was going on in basic. He would see me stressing out and would say, “It’s just a mind game. They just doing this to mess with us.” I was freaking out until he helped me understand HELL WEEK wasn’t forever.
Sure enough, things calmed down and basic became a big game. After week six our bodies got used to taking a beating. My battle buddy and I gave each other high fives while the drill sergeant had his back turned. We were getting ‘smoked’ and smiling when the drill sergeant wasn’t looking. It was an interesting experience.
My whole career, people from different backgrounds took me under their wings and showed me the way.
People who helped me and continue to help me come from all backgrounds and races. We’re not all green (I’m black) but understanding we all bleed the same gives a common ground of understanding.
When it comes to making it in life I choose to be color blind.
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