Comments on: Red Tails, The Real Tuskegee Airmen And George Lucas’ Comments…

By: Arthur

Arthur — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:12:26 +0000

Thanks, Akash. I read about that incident and it is reflected in the film in a relatively minor incident involving one man. By the way a full scale riot erupted when the men were ordered out of the Officer’s Club. I will check and see if it was a catalyst for Parks and if it was one of the first major incidents. Makes sense.

Also note that when they came back to the states after the war, Nazis prisoners were allowed into the Officers Clubs but they were not. One day Lena Horne went to perform at an Army base and saw German prisoners sitting up front with the whites while Black soldiers were forced to sit in the back. She cursed them out royally, and as a result Hollywood banned her for 30 years until she made the film, The Wiz in the 1970s. . . One of the Tuskegee Airmen was arrested in NYC as soon as he got off the ship for impersonating an officer. The police did not believee that there were Black officers! . . This film was like a Black Top Gun. And I have to see that 1995 movie. Thanks, again.

By: Akash

Akash — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:34:24 +0000

Haven’t seen the movie yet, but one interesting fact that I found interesting in my readings about the tuskegee airmen was the arrest of 100 plus officers in Indiana, which happened because they refused an order from their commanding officer at the time– he wanted them to sign documents stating that they wouldn’t enter the white officers club whereby supporting the segregation of themselves. They refused, and we’re arrested because of it. Correct me if I’m wrong– wasn’t this one of the first major instances where Afro Americans refused to leave a “whites only” premises? Rosa Parks probably read that newspaper article and started hatching her plan to sit at the front of the bus.

Your point of view always blows my mind Dr. Lewin.
-fan of top gun
-bigger fan of the first Tuskegee Airmen movie(1995- with Lawrence Fishburne)

By: Arthur Lewin

Arthur Lewin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:46:45 +0000

Thank you Festus and J. Cooper. J.C., yes you are right, not a glimpse of any Black woman’s face, not even a flashback or even a picture or even a verbal mention of any Black woman. The fact that the woman was plain and he kept remarking on her beauty made it even worse. It sort of implied an infatuation with white women. In my mind I connected it up with the reference to “Black” Jesus. The implication being that Jesus is supposed to be depicted as white, and this white iconography translates into white being perfection. . .

By: J.Cooper

J.Cooper — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:34:40 +0000

Thank You for this article Professor Lewin. As a thought, the lack in presence of black women as supportive wives, aunts, sisters and cousins surprised me. Although this film was set in Italia, I found it interesting that there was not a glimpse (2 minute flashback, etc.) of the family structure that primarily included black women. The relationship of interest that was highlighted is all too common in Hollywood and an instant replay of “Miracle at St. Ana”.

By: Festus

Festus — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:13:58 +0000

compelling piece Arthur

By: Arthur

Arthur — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:14:14 +0000

Patsy, thank you for the correction. Booker T. Washington established Tuskegee Institute. George Washington Carver was its most famous faculty member. As for the Airmen’s opinion, from what I read it was quite positive. But some said that it did not show the hardships that they endured before and after their service, but they understood that it could not fit into one two hour movie. Here is what Dr. Roscoe Brown, a Tuskegee Airman, who later became President of Bronx Community College (CUNY) had to say. . .

You know there was an HBO movie in 1995 which is more like a documentary that talked about the training and so on, but this particular movie focuses on the combat activity and it really is the combat activity that gave us our reputation. If we had never gotten into combat, if we never shot down an airplane, we would just be a memory somewhere. Because we did such a great thing, the combat really highlights it and the special effects in ‘Red Tails’ are absolutely outstanding. It gives the young people something to relate to.

By: Patsy

Patsy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:57:19 +0000

The Tuskegee Institue was established by Dr. Booker T. Washington and opened on July 4th 1881.

By: Patsy

Patsy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:46:45 +0000

Interesting article. It would be also interesting to know what the Tuskegee Airmen who are still alive think about the movie!