Some encouraging words about big 2021 challenge

Several weeks ago, Tony Kessler, senior content manager at BLR®, sent an e-mail asking for perspectives on the year 2020. His note prompted this article. The year has been full of challenges, including racial unrest. Systemic racism became a topic in businesses and organizations all across the country. Even well-meaning diversity training came under attack. Historians will tell us later whether we successfully responded to the long-needed racial reckoning of 2020. As I write this column on November 2, 2020, I know from personal experience we can do better in 2021.

‘Mess hall effect’

In late May 1972, I stood at my college graduation, raised my hand, and was sworn in as an officer in the U.S. Army. For most of the next two years, I was assigned to Fort Dix, New Jersey, which at the time was one of the Army’s basic training posts. During my stint, I served in training and command positions in several basic training companies.

About every eight weeks, I saw young men, some older than me, enter the armed services and go through basic training. They came from all over the country, from all walks of life, from farms, cities, small towns, some with just enough education, others college-educated. They were white, African American, and Hispanic, enlistees and draftees (the army was transitioning at the time to an all-volunteer force). A true melting pot.