Second Navy Lesson - Racial Insensitivty & Microaggressions

A few weeks ago, I passed along a story of a story of one racial instance I had experienced at my first duty station – Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Todendorf, German.

(Aerial view of NSGA Todendorf, Germany, 1964-1967 - yes, before my time !)

Todendorf was a great place to be stationed. Only a small contingent, even with dependents. The site itself was right on the beach overlooking the Baltic Sea. We had all four seasons. I was taught early that the focus for all was to work hard and play hard – all of which we did.

As I stated in the earlier writings, there were very few minorities, three, and no women military types on the command.

Last time I mentioned the story with our first Diversity training and having to attend “Watermelon U.”

I only recall only one other instance where we (minorities) came face-to-face with that ugly racial face.

I was one of those weekends where my watch section had the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. Being that we only got the weekends off like every 3 months or so we took full advantage of it. We all gathered at the club to have a great time. If memory serves me correct there was a local band playing in the club so there were the officers, all enlisted, that weren’t working, and several spouses at the club.

Exact time that it happened eludes me as it was many years ago but somewhere as the evening went along one of the senior enlisted guys came up to me with a rather angry look on his face. I wasn’t sure if I had done something wrong or he was just upset at something else. Anyway, he walked directly to me and said “Flash, you and Ron will stop using the bathroom to come your hair. You doing it in the mirror over the sink and when your hair gets in the sink it looks like pubic hair and is disgusting. You tell Ron and you two do not comb your naps in the club bathroom.” He then stormed off.

I had never encountered that before and was taken aback with the comment. I had never been told my hair looked like pubic hair before and had never had my hair refer to as “naps”. It was a bit hurtful and made me a little irritated. I went and talked with Ron and passed to him what had been said.

From that day on I was very cautious and aware of where I was combing or picking out my hair. If I was in a bathroom somewhere other than in my barracks room, I made sure I rinsed out the sink in case some hair fell into the sink as I didn’t want to be confronted again.

Eventually I got over it, but it took me some time to get over those words and not be worried about what else I may be doing that might offend these sailors I was stationed with.

I had a couple of challenging experiences dealing with racial insensitivity and microaggressions during my time at NSGA Todendorf. In this instance, where a senior enlisted individual made hurtful comments about my hair, is an unfortunate example of how prejudice and ignorance can manifest in everyday interactions.

Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional acts or comments that convey negative stereotypes, bias, or discrimination towards marginalized groups. In this case, the comments about my hair and the use of racially insensitive language were hurtful and inappropriate. It's understandable that such incidents do have a lasting impact and create a sense of discomfort and anxiety.

It's important to address and confront these instances of racism, but doing so can be challenging, especially in a hierarchical military environment. While I eventually got over the incident, the fact that I was concerned about inadvertently offending others indicates the lasting impact it had on my mindset.

It's important to remember that everyone deserves respect and dignity, regardless of race or ethnicity. If you ever encounter such situations in the future, you might consider discussing your feelings with a trusted superior, counselor, or someone in your support network. Raising awareness about these issues can contribute to fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment.

Additionally, I hope by sharing my experiences can also help others understand the impact of their words and actions, promoting greater sensitivity and empathy. Over time, as conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion continue to grow, it is hoped that such instances will become less common, and individuals from all backgrounds will be treated with the respect they deserve.