Tuskegee Airmen

African Americans and the U.S. Military

Black participation in U.S. military excursions has a long and distinguished history, as blacks have provided military service in every U.S. war effort dating back to the American Revolution in the late 18th century. Issues of racial discrimination and denial had always existed prior to World War II, to the extent that black military service opportunities were severely limited. Within this racialized system, black military personnel received inferior pay, were recognized less often for military service, were blocked from advancing in military rank, and were assigned to duty with great reservation.

In October 1925, the War College of the U.S. Army issued a memorandum, “The Use of Negro Manpower in War.” The memorandum noted that blacks were inferior to whites, unfit for leadership roles, and incapable of aviation. As a result, the memorandum encouraged continued segregation within the army. Many military leaders feared that integration would lead to inefficiency, reduce combat effectiveness, and ultimately increase racial tensions among military personnel. As a result of these beliefs, many have considered the training of the Tuskegee Airmen as an experiment established to prove black inferiority and blacks’ lack of aviation skills.

Establishment

In 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802 to create an all-black fight training program with military purposes. In part, this action was initiated by a lawsuit filed in federal court by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on behalf of Howard University student Yancy Williams and others who sought to force the Department of War to accept black pilot trainees. Prior to this, blacks were denied many military opportunities because of racism and conjectures of presumed black inferiority. President Roosevelt's initiative also was aimed at garnering much-needed support of black voters toward his goal of being elected to a third term in office. Some have argued that President Roosevelt had no intention of changing racial segregation in the military.

Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. (left) and Edward C. Gleed wearing fight gear and standing with their airplane at an air base in Rametti, Italy, during World War II. Davis was made the first black U.S. Air Force flag officer.

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