How Did The Tuskegee Airmen Overcome Racial Discrimination

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The Tuskegee Airmen was the first colored air squadron in U.S. military history. Since they were colored they weren’t highly honored as the white pilots; but they accomplished more than others. It wasn’t easy for them along the way. Therefore, The Tuskegee Airmen like Benjamin O. Davis Jr. faced racial discrimination and the toughest pilot program in the military. This would help make them the most successful escort squadron of the war and eventually lead to the integration of all military forces soon after World War 2. The Tuskegee Airmen faced a large amount of discrimination because of their colored skin. “The climax of this racism occurred in April of 1945 when officers of the 477th Bombardment Group tried to integrate the officers' …show more content…

Since they were colored they didn’t get the same equipment as the white men in the military. However, they were more intelligent and more trained than the white squadrons. After WWII , the military was no longer prejudiced against color or any other skin color; because the Tuskegee Airmen proved that anything was possible. “By May 1948, as that year's presidential election intensified, President Harry S. Truman decided to desegregate the armed forces by Executive Order No. 9981—a policy for which blacks had lobbied—thereby ensuring Truman strong black support at the polls. ("African Americans and the Military: World War II and Segregation."). This proved that this was a time for a change, this was a huge jump for the civil rights movement. America had finally realized that any race was possible to accomplish any mission thanks to Tuskegee Airmen. In addition, the Tuskegee Airmen accomplished many things during World War 2. “The TA eventually included more than fifteen thousand members. Sixty-six TA pilots were killed in action or accidents, and another thirty-two became prisoners of war. The squadron was awarded 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 14