Military Gears Up to Fight Racial Bias, a Longstanding Adversary

The U.S. government has tried at least six times since World War II to root out discrimination and racial bias in the military, through commissions, recommendations and initiatives. Each effort ended in failure, leaving today’s military a reflection of society’s inequality.

A new initiative now is beginning, and this time will be different, defense officials and military leaders say, pointing to the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the resulting nationwide racial-justice protests.

Mr. Floyd’s death has spurred what leaders and military experts consider an unprecedented conversation about...