Race Relations Within the US Military

Sociologists now often say that the US military is a model of good race relations. Although there is no denying progress made in military race relations, especially since establishment of the all-volunteer force, this review challenges that comfortable claim as research done over the past two decade...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of sociology 2012-01, Vol.38 (1), p.401-422
Main Authors: Burk, James, Espinoza, Evelyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African Americans
Armed Forces
Bias
Discrimination
Health care
Health Care Services
Hispanics
Individual and Society
Military enlistment
Military Personnel
Military service
Military sociology
Mortality Rates
Political sociology
Post traumatic stress disorder
Race
Race relations
Racial discrimination
Racial Relations
Racism
Resource allocation
Sociology
U.S.A
United States of America
Veterans
War
Warfare
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Summary:Sociologists now often say that the US military is a model of good race relations. Although there is no denying progress made in military race relations, especially since establishment of the all-volunteer force, this review challenges that comfortable claim as research done over the past two decades supports it only in part. Instead, we conclude that disparities in military allocations of goods and burdens sometimes disadvantage racial minorities. This conclusion rests on a review of institutional analyses in five arenas to which researchers have paid close attention: racial patterns in enlistment, officer promotion rates, administration of military justice, risk of death in combat, and health care for wounded soldiers. Although not a direct or intended result of military policy and practice, in three of five cases there was evidence of racial bias and institutional racism. Further work is needed to identify mechanisms through which the bias and racism arose.
ISSN:0360-0572
1545-2115
DOI:10.1146/annurev-soc-071811-145501