Why Does The Navy Have So Few Black Admirals? Some Blame A Culture Of Discrimination

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Rear Adm. Alvin Holsey (left) speaks with Ensign Dimitri Foster in the pilothouse aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain in 2018.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Rodarte/U.S. Navy

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Petty Officer 2nd Class Craig Rodarte/U.S. Navy

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Rear Adm. Sinclair M. Harris speaks about the importance the Battle of Midway and turning point of World War II in the Pacific aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS The Sullivans in 2013.

Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker/U.S. Navy

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Lt. Cmdr. Corey Barker/U.S. Navy

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Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Force Master Chief Huben Phillips (right) speaks to Sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford after a Carrier-Advanced Reconfigurable Training Systems presentation in 2018.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Alan Lewis/U.S. Navy

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Petty Officer 3rd Class Alan Lewis/U.S. Navy

Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Force Master Chief Huben Phillips (right) speaks to Sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford after a Carrier-Advanced Reconfigurable Training Systems presentation in 2018.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Alan Lewis/U.S. Navy

The Navy is more diverse at the lower ranks. Nearly 20% of enlisted sailors are African American. But Force Master Chief Huben Phillips, who is part of the One Navy Task Force, said sailors can face discrimination in the ranks.

«Throughout my 31 years, when I’ve seen racial discrimination against me, I knew what the policy was; I knew it was wrong, Phillips said. «But when you’re in the minority, you just kind of put your head down. You think about self preservation. You think about your family. You think about the bigger picture.

Right now, the One Navy Task Force, which was formed after the death of George Floyd and the racial justice protests that followed, is holding focus groups throughout the service to encourage enlisted sailors and officers alike to speak up. The task force is scheduled to issue its report in December.