the reader is familiar with population statistics and therefore does not elaborate on them, which causes confusion. There is more than just statistical data, which indicates there was racial discrimination in Vietnam among US soldiers. In 1967 there were "no African Americans at all on boards in seven southern states" , therefore many southern blacks saw the drafting process as racist. Westheider does not solely blame the US military for its institutional racism but also refers to the social and economic conditions that made African Americans more likely to be drafted than their white counterpart. College students and skilled workers were often exempt from the draft and many African Americans, through no fault of their own, could not afford college nor attain highly skilled positions in the workforce. American society discriminated against blacks and according to Westheider, since the US military was a branch of American society, discrimination existed there as well.
             Westheider argues that not only did the military discriminate against blacks with the draft but also with the testing and placement of soldiers. Claiming that the tests taken by soldiers to determine their field of expertise "were culturally biased in favor of whites" , but unfortunately no examples of questions are given for the reader to judge for him or her self. If the reader is not familiar with the difference between white and black culture then how is the reader to know if the accusations about the tests are true. Westheider insisted that the military knew that a problem existed in its testing however Air Force General Daniel James defended the military's position stating it was reluctant to " lower its standards to the street level" , but acknowledged the need to allow blacks to be able to compete for all positions.
             Officers in charge of promotions were usually white and many African Americans believed that whites ...