I never knew if my dad wanted to be in the
war. I’ve felt he was conflicted about
wanting to serve. I heard him and other men with disgust in their voices speak
of the limited soldiering Negroes were permitted because discrimination against
them in the military was as bad as it was in their daily lives. The segregation of whites from blacks
prevailed just as it did in the Southern states. “They’ll only let us cook, shine shoes, clean
the latrines,” my father and others mourned.
Daddy always did his best to avoid being where he was disrespected,
mistreated because of his race. He
wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it in the military. Perhaps my proud father was thankful he wasn’t
eligible and didn’t have to be demeaned in the role he played to gain the
victories dearly sought and prayed for.
Then black troops were given weapons and
sent to the front lines. Eventually the
Tuskegee Airmen, trained to be fighter pilots, participated in missions against
the Germans. After hearing that kind of
news, the men in our neighborhood were energized and hopeful about actually
fighting in defense of their country.
*
* * *
* *
Red Tails is expected in theaters January 20th. That’s next week! I’m thinking a lot of folks should go see it
with a number of friends and family. I’ll do my best to be counted among those
supporting the film, seeing the exciting story.
Tuskegee Airmen, the first African-American fighter pilots inspired
my dad, his contemporaries, and, for sure, America’s black communities during a
critical time in our nation's history. I
think it's wonderful younger generations will now get to know about these
brave fighting men in what has been deemed an intriguing and edge-of-your-seat action
movie.
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