Every colored pilot in the the 99th went through his own private hell to wear those wings....
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Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis:
Every colored pilot in the the 99th went through his own private hell to wear those wings. Each of those men carry not only the dream of becoming American Military Aviators but the hopes of an entire people as well. Am I the only one here that understands what that means? I was brought up to believe that beneath it all Americans are a decent people with an abiding sense of integrity and fair play. The cheers I heard across this country when Joe Louis and Jesse Owens humiliated Hitler's "Master Race" didn't just come from proud colored folks. They came from everyone. How are we to interpret that? As a United States Army Officer who gladly puts his life on the line everyday there's no greater conflict within me. How do I feel about my country? And how does my country feel about me? Are we only to be Americans when the mood suits you?
Every colored pilot in the the 99th went through his own private hell to wear those wings. Each of those men carry not only the dream of becoming American Military Aviators but the hopes of an entire people as well. Am I the only one here that understands what that means? I was brought up to believe that beneath it all Americans are a decent people with an abiding sense of integrity and fair play. The cheers I heard across this country when Joe Louis and Jesse Owens humiliated Hitler's "Master Race" didn't just come from proud colored folks. They came from everyone. How are we to interpret that? As a United States Army Officer who gladly puts his life on the line everyday there's no greater conflict within me. How do I feel about my country? And how does my country feel about me? Are we only to be Americans when the mood suits you?
Full Transcript
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Every colored pilot in the 99th
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went through his own private hell to wear those wings
00:00:07.273 --> 00:00:08.865
Each of those men carry
00:00:08.941 --> 00:00:12.638
not only the dream of becoming American Military Aviators
00:00:12.711 --> 00:00:15.908
but the hopes of an entire people as well
00:00:17.483 --> 00:00:20.452
Am I the only one here that understands what that means
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Movie Summary
The true story of how a group of African American pilots overcame racist opposition to become one of the finest US fighter groups in World War II
Actors
Hannibal Lee
