“I Can’t Wait To See How High You Soar”

[sheshe2]

?


@FLOTUS: These @TuskegeeUniv alums met Eleanor Roosevelt during her historic visit in 1941 to fly with the #TuskegeeAirmen

So while the Airmen selected for this program were actually highly educated — many already had college degrees and pilots licenses — they were presumed to be inferior. During training, they were often assigned to menial tasks like housekeeping or landscaping. Many suffered verbal abuse at the hands of their instructors. When they ventured off base, the white sheriff here in town called them “boy” and ticketed them for the most minor offenses. And when they finally deployed overseas, white soldiers often wouldn’t even return their salutes.

Just think about what that must have been like for those young men. Here they were, trained to operate some of the most complicated, high-tech machines of their day — flying at hundreds of miles an hour, with the tips of their wings just six inches apart. Yet when they hit the ground, folks treated them like they were nobody — as if their very existence meant nothing.

Now, those Airmen could easily have let that experience clip their wings. But as you all know, instead of being defined by the discrimination and the doubts of those around them, they became one of the most successful pursuit squadrons in our military. (Applause.) They went on to show the world that if black folks and white folks could fight together, and fly together, then surely — surely — they could eat at a lunch counter together. Surely their kids could go to school together. (Applause.)

You see, those Airmen always understood that they had a “double duty” — one to their country and another to all the black folks who were counting on them to pave the way forward. (Applause.) So for those Airmen, the act of flying itself was a symbol of liberation for themselves and for all African Americans.

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/05/09/i-cant-wait-to-see-how-high-you-soar/

Eleanor Roosevelt's Flight With The First Black Aviators

Seventy years ago, in March of 1941, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt hopped in the back of pilot C. Alfred "Chief" Anderson's plane at the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama and went for a flight. OK, it wasn't quite that casual; the event was actually a pretty big deal — because Anderson was black.







http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/03/25/134769323/black_aviators

Heroes~

[monmouth4]

1. I hope to see her on a $20 someday...n/t

[madokie]

2. Every single one of them were Hero's

I'm tired of racist and homophobic assholes

[sheshe2]

3. That is exactly why I love you madokie.

[madokie]

4. Likewise She

I think you and I see things in the same light.

[sheshe2]

10. I do believe we do madokie...

[libdem4life]

5. Those first two photos just made me burst with pride for the women who have had so

much of an effect on our nation. Those very special two Democratic First Ladies and the Tuskegee survivors. What a place in history.

[jwirr]

6. Are these ladies alums? I did not even know that Tuskeegee had women students.

[lovemydog]

7. Heroes one and all.

Thank you sheshe2!

[sheshe2]

11. I love you.

[lovemydog]

12. Back atcha sweetie.

[sheshe2]

13. I have been spamming DU tonight...

With Obama threads.

I had to, so tired of the hate going to the top of the page. It hurts.

I just want to enjoy him for the time we have left, I want to enjoy the best President of my lifetime.

Tears! Love you.

[Terra Alta]

8. they are all heroes

anyone who can't see that, is a racist, bigoted asshole.

[stonecutter357]

9. K&R!