Black enlistment policy

The black enlistment policy of the U.S. Navy is symbolic of systemic racism. The policy bars blacks from serving at sea in any role other than mess attendant, and denies blacks standard basic training undergone by whites. The Navy keeps the policy in place to reflect sociocultural conditions across the country, but changes the policy to allow blacks freedom to serve in any function at sea or ashore when empirical evidence and public pressure become too great.

Explosives and munitions

The explosives and munitions in this book symbolize danger and racism, as only black lives were risked by having to load them unsafely. Explosives and munitions, including massive bombs, are used in war and required to be loaded on supply ships bound for the front. This must be done quickly and efficiently, as such supplies are constantly in demand. Joe Small and other blacks...