The Tuskegee airmen were the first black servicemen to serve as military aviators in the U.S. armed forces, flying with distinction during World War II.
Though subject to racial discrimination both at home and abroad, the 996 pilots and more than 15,000 ground personnel who served with the all-black units would be credited with some 15,500 combat sorties and earn over 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses for their achievements.
The highly publicized successes of the Tuskegee Airmen helped pave the way for the eventual integration of the U.S. armed forces under President Harry Truman in 1948.
http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen
The airmen faced racism and a lack of support in the military. Military personnel considered the airmen second-class citizens.
Some military personnel held ignorant views. They did not think African Americans had the intelligence or skill to fly fighter planes. When the Tuskegee Airmen were finally given a chance, they proved their critics wrong. They performed with courage and skill.
During the thousands of missions the airmen flew, they did not lose any of the bombers they escorted. The airmen shot down more than a hundred enemy aircraft.
The nickname the “Red Tails” comes from the distinctive paint the airmen added to their P-51 Mustang planes. That mark eventually brought them respect from fellow Air Force pilots.
They were celebrated in the black press. These were men who aspired to excellence in every element of their life, and they flew fighter planes so the world could see.
What’s cooler than that?
Watch this video on African Americans in the Military.
This is a clip from a television movie called Tuskegee Airmen. Watch as much of it as you'd like but don't skip it. (you know who you are.) :)
Comment on the blog:
What did you find inspiring about these pilots?
Other then the fact of all the racism and discrimination, these pilots went hard and didn't give up. It was written that, "During the thousands of missions the airmen flew, they did not lose any of the bombers they escorted." I found that extremely inspiring and a positive statistic :)
ReplyDeleteEverything about these pilots is inspiring even though they were treated so poorly for the longest time that kept on fighting and never gave up. If someone talked to me in the way that they were talking to the blacks I would be so mad and upset and would not want to help or even look at the whites because they are so mean but they persevered and helped and they showed all the haters how great they really are.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was inspiring that even though they were treated like cattle they still fought as hard as a they could. When the man in the video called the cadet a 'nigger' I physically flinched. I'm so glad we don't have blatant hatred for African Americans now. The story of these men can encourage people who aren't African American too! As a Christian, I get hit sometimes with discrimination. Not as much as I would be if I went to public school, but I still get some. It's cool because this shows that you can be strong even if everyone things you're useless.
ReplyDeletei found that they are all, so faithful about what they are doing and they have a since of humor even tho they are in the army
ReplyDeleteI thought it was inspiring how they continued to fight as hard as they could to protect their country despite all the discrimination they faced and that they did not let it affect how they fought.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was inspiring that regardless of race that African Americans continued to fight for this country. On a side note, I recognized some of the actors in the movie clip like Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Laurence Fishburne, and Cuba Gooding, Jr.
ReplyDeleteYeah that was cool that those actors were in it.
DeleteI liked how in the movie clip how they handled the prejudiced captain. But what I found inspiring was their will and determination to serve their country.
ReplyDeleteThere's a quote from one of my favorite movies called 'Unbroken.' After the main character decides he's going to kill his interment camp tormentor,a fellow POW says, "That's not how we beat 'em." The Tuskegee airmen knew that using violence would not help their case for freedom from racial discrimination. They survived the discrimination and were very helpful in the Allies winning the war. I'm proud of them and inspired by them.
ReplyDeletewhat I find inspiring about these pilots is that they let everyone push them around but they still fought for what they thought was right
ReplyDeleteI find it totally inspiring that these men faught even when they were treated like dirt. And when the man told the blacks that this was not their country I couldn't believe they still wanted to serve in the country, I know I wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was inspiring that even though the pilots were in an era that did not like the black race still persevered to accomplish what they loved to do and earn over 150 flying cross achievements in the time that they spent serving a country that had racism and still did what they thought was right to do thru hard and rough times.If I were them I would have moved away before I even got to the USA.
ReplyDelete