I grew up in a very diverse city and high school. Many black friends. I was always sort of blind to racism. That all changed when i served in the Army from 01'-06' in the 1st Cavalry Division. We deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2003. My entire chain of command was black. My Squad Leader, my Platoon Sergeant, my 1st Sergeant...all of them. My Squad Leader was from New Orleans. He was the most hateful human being i have ever met. Over 2 years of just extra duty here and extra duty there. It was spiteful and full of vengence. Once in Iraq, I was subject to the most dangerous missions and extra duty, time and time again. The only one in my squad. I went to my chain of command multiple times to express my concerns. We had 5 members of my company die while in Iraq, including 2 from our Platoon. The two replacements that we received were both black as well. I was an E-4 at the time and they were both PVT's. I was placed on an escort mission that came under small arms contact...this was after being on check point duty for 8 hrs in 120 degree heat. When i finally got back to our FOB, all of them (including the two FNG's) were in their rooms playing dominos. I absolutely flipped my shite and went straight to the the Company Commander(Who was black). The next day i was put on QRF after my check point duty and when i asked why couldn't the two new guys finally pull some duty, my NCO looked me dead in the face and said "because i said so white boy". Its one thing to be racist, but this POS was literally putting me in extra situations of potential harm and even death. He was putting my life at risk on purpose. On one of those missions, one of my best friends was killed by an IED and its haunted me every day of my life since. I will say this though, one of the other NCO's in my Platoon, who was black, stepped in and literally just took me into his squad. I have been best friends with him every day since. I talk with him every day like a brother and i haven't seen him in 15 years. Racism isn't unique to one race...its what's inside of people's hearts. The NCO who saved me, quite possibly saved me from the anger that was setting into my heart. I thank him every chance i get. There are good and bad with every race.