29-01-2025
Tuskegee Airmen's Legacy Lives On in Gary Amid National Debate
The legacy of Black aviation is a point of pride in Gary, where the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen — trailblazing pilots who fought for America abroad and equality at home — are honored through tributes like a statue at the Gary Aquatorium and a bridge at Gary/Chicago International Airport.
These service members helped pave the way for military integration and civil rights progress. But a recent Air Force decision to briefly remove their history from training materials drew sharp backlash and reignited debates about preserving their legacy nationwide.
The memory of the Tuskegee Airmen is prominently featured in Gary. On the shores of Lake Michigan, on the east side of the Gary Aquatorium, stands a statue commemorating their contributions. Above the Aquatorium soars a replica P-51 Mustang fighter plane, painted to honor Lt. Robert Martin, a Tuskegee Airman whose story helped inspire the film Red Tails.
Included among the squadron was Quentin P. Smith, an East Chicago native, longtime Gary resident, and pioneer. Smith taught at Roosevelt High School, served as the first principal of West Side High School, and founded Emerson Visual and Performing Arts School. In honor of his contributions to education and aviation history, the bridge at Gary/Chicago International Airport bears his name. Out of the 994 Airmen who graduated from the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, at least seven Lake County residents earned their pilot's wings, according to the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.
The local pride in the Tuskegee Airmen comes as their history faced a challenge on the national stage.
Following an executive order under President Donald Trump that banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, the Air Force briefly halted its basic military training course, which included videos on the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs — the first women to fly for the military.
The move triggered an immediate outcry from service members, congressmen, and the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving their legacy. In a statement, the organization said it was 'disappointed and strongly opposed' to the removal of Tuskegee Airmen's story from Air Force training courses and called for its immediate restoration.
'The service and sacrifice of the Tuskegee Airmen and the WASPs, who were also removed from the Air Force's training courses, are an essential part of American history and carried significant weight in the World War II veteran community,' the statement read. 'We believe the content of these courses does not promote one category of service member or citizen over another. They are simply a part of American military history that all service members should be made aware of.'
After the wave of sharp criticism, the Air Force announced Monday it had reinstated the training video.
Ken Rapier, president of the Chicago 'Dodo' Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, explained how Chicago and Northwest Indiana played a significant role in Black aviation before World War II. Citing Robbins Airport, the first Black airport in Chicago, and trailblazers like Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to hold a pilot's license, Rapier said many Black aviators emerged from this region, including Gary's own Tuskegee Airmen.
As president of the Chicago chapter, Rapier said the organization was upset that the legend of the Tuskegee Airmen was once again in danger of being eradicated, but the attempt at erasing their history only gave the chapter more motivation to promote the story of the iconic Tuskegee Airmen.
'It just gave us a renewed sense of urgency to get the story of the Tuskegee Airmen out there, because it's a story for everybody, all ages, all races, because it applies to everybody. And their motto was, with courage and determination, you can overcome adversity, and that's exactly what they did.'
The Tuskegee Airmen overcame immense adversity, both at home and abroad. While they excelled in their mission to defeat Axis powers in Europe during World War II, they returned to the United States only to be treated as second-class citizens. Forced to fight battles on two fronts — against fascism overseas and racism at home — they also faced persistent stereotypes questioning their abilities, prejudices that continue to affect African American service members today.
For example, the 'dodo' moniker in the name of the Chicago chapter refers to the flightless bird of the same name, a nod to the difficulties post-war veterans had finding jobs in the aviation industry despite their flying expertise. Despite their treatment while serving their country, Rapier said, the Tuskegee Airmen were so successful, they changed the reputation of the Air Force itself.
'People say, well, the Tuskegee Airmen is Black History. No Tuskegee Airmen are United States history … and because the Tuskegee Airmen were so successful in spite of how they were treated, that's the reason why their story was attempted to be swept under the rug.'
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