Thesis: The Tuskegee Airmen were a prestige group of African American men who were determined to go above and beyond their call of duty for their country and their race.
I. Racial tensions have existed for many years.
A. Racism has existed since the United States brought people of color from overseas to the United States to work as their slaves.
B. Abraham Lincoln did a lot for racism in the United States, but he did not get rid of racism altogether.
II. Even after African Americans had assisted in many wars, the United States still did not give them the same rights as the whites.
A. African Americans had been allowed to help the United States military in multiple wars when they needed more fighters.
B. African Americans fought alongside
…show more content…
The NAACP had been fighting for African American’s rights for many years, but after the attacks on Pearl Harbor their cries were heard.
B. With an enormous loss of warriors and supplies, the United States military knew they would have to reach for help.
IV. On January 16th of 1941, the United States War Department announced their plans to create a “Negro pursuit squadron” that would be known as the Tuskegee Experiment.
A. With a significant lack of warriors after the losses from Pearl Harbor, the United States military finally caved in and began planning to let African Americans join the military.
B. Construction of the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee Alabama began.
V. The Tuskegee Airmen were called the Tuskegee ‘Experiment’ because people expected them to fail.
A. At this time in history, African Americans were seen as lacking “intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism.”
B. Even though the U.S. military needed help, they still were strong racists and did not actually expect the Tuskegee Airmen to succeed.
VI. The first class of African American cadets, who would later become known as the 99th pursuit squadron, started their training at the Tuskegee Institute.
A. July 19th of 1941, the first class of Tuskegee Airmen began their training at the Tuskegee
…show more content…
The men in charge of training the Tuskegee Airmen were racist bigots who lied and tried to frame the Tuskegee Airmen in order to have the Tuskegee Experiment shut down or make the cadets quit.
VIII. In 1942, the first three classes of African Americans graduated the Tuskegee Institute, receiving their pilot wings and being commissioned as second lieutenants.
A. Despite multiple attempts to terminate the Tuskegee Experiment, the first three classes of the Tuskegee Airmen graduated with their pilot wings in 1942.
B. The Tuskegee Airmen stuck to this saying, “We have the talent. Just give us one chance, and we will show you a truth so strong about our character, about our courage, about our commitment to our nation that it can never be denied” and made it to their goal of graduation and being a part of the United States military.
IX. Even after their rigorous training, the Tuskegee Airmen were still not treated as equals within the United States military.
A. The Tuskegee Airmen were not allowed to “seek and destroy” like a pilot is typically expected to do.
B. The Tuskegee Airmen were only used as shields for the white bombers. They escorted the bombers to their targets and back to the