The Montford Point Marines were trailblazers in the U.S. Marine Corps, but their stories have often gone untold. Mallorie Berger, granddaughter of Montford Point Marine Maurice L. Burns, is working to ensure the bravery of these men, including Charles Cargile Hall, is remembered
Tag: Tuskegee Airmen
Posted inAfro Briefs
Alabama’s Tuskegee University revives flight training legacy with new aviation program
Tuskegee University has relaunched flight training at historic Moton Field—home of the original Tuskegee Airmen—through a partnership with Republic Airways’ LIFT Academy. The new aviation program offers students a degree in aviation science and commercial pilot training, aiming to meet the national pilot shortage while honoring a proud legacy of Black excellence in aviation.
Posted inLiving
How ancient African proverbs can empower Black lives today
By Aswad WalkerAssociate editor, Houston Defender With each passing day the assault on all things Black increases. The Department of Defense removed the Tuskegee Airmen and Jackie Robinson from the DoD’s official webpage. The DoD no longer acknowledges Black History Month. The U.S. Army erased Civil Rights Movement hero and U.S. military veteran Medgar Evers’ […]
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: The cost of dividing our nation’s defenders
Tyrone D. Taborn, publisher and chairman of Career Communications Group, argues that the recent decision by military recruiters to withdraw from engineering conferences like the Black Engineer of the Year Awards sends a troubling message that the nation’s security is being undermined.
Posted inBlack History
Decorated pilot Harry Stewart Jr., one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, dies at 100
Retired Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., a decorated World War II pilot and Tuskegee Airman, has died at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy of breaking racial barriers and earning honors for his combat heroism.
Posted inNational News
More DEI fallout: Air Force scraps course that used videos of Tuskegee Airmen and female WWII pilots
The Air Force has removed training courses featuring videos of the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots to comply with the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Posted inBlack History
Arkansas’ last Tuskegee Airman Tuskegee Airman, Jerry T. Hodges Jr., takes final flight
Jerry T. Hodges Jr., a Tuskegee Airman from Arkansas, passed away at the age of 99, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, dedication and excellence as one of the last surviving African-American aviators from World War II.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Mourning the loss of legendary Tuskegee Airmen instructor Roscoe D. Draper
Roscoe Draper, a pioneering flight instructor and American hero, passed away at the age of 105, leaving a legacy of breaking racial barriers and setting new standards in American aviation.
Posted inNational News
Military service: Mary Ellen Smith’s key to professional growth
By Helen Bezuneh, Special to the AFRO For Mary Ellen Smith, a 64-year-old from Las Vegas, Nev., joining the Air Force after high school was the option that she knew would open doors for her. Understanding that her parents were likely unable to afford college for her, she embarked on a journey that would ultimately […]
Posted inNational News
Tuskegee Airmen Museum and Center for Aviation Technology Training prepares Black youth for careers in aviation
By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer, msayles@afro.com In 1941, the Tuskegee Airmen became the first all-Black flying crew in the U.S. military during World War II. Also known as the Red Tails, the 992 fighter pilots executed more than 1,500 missions, and 15,500 forays, defeating 261 enemy aircrafts and winning more than 850 medals. Despite […]