Black History Month: how African Americans integrated in the military

DELMARVA. – African Americans have evolved in our country. Tuskegee University was awarded an Air Corps contract to help train black military pilots. This group was eventually called ‘The Tuskegee Airmen’ and pushed for integration into the military.

Local historian Andre Swygert, said these pilots helped break through. “Breaking barriers that had existed for long periods, and they saw themselves as agents of change. Not individually, but collectively, I think they knew this was a mission they had.”

From 1941 to 1946, around 1,000 black pilots were trained at Tuskegee. The University already had an established airfield development training program, which made it desirable. However, Swygert, who’s also a member of the First State Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, said the city was chosen for deeper reasons.

“If we’re going to do this experiment, we’re going to do it in the south, where there are certain things in place, where people know their place, and we’re going to this in that kind of area to keep control.”

There was a breaking point, due to the Freeman Field Mutiny, when black officers from the Airman group attempted to enter a white officer’s club. They were denied access, which resulted in a non-violent protest in 1945.

This was likely a precursor to the Civil Rights Movement years later, and Swygert said this was the catalyst for change.

“Those efforts contributed to President Truman signing his executive order in 1948, saying we’re going to desegregate the military. It’s not efficient, so let’s put everybody under one umbrella.”

America’s military practices changed after this order. Gary Collick, worked in the U.S Air Force from 1978 to 1998. The 20-year veteran said the improvement in race relations he saw first-hand.

“There’s a slogan in the military, it is ‘There are no atheists in a foxhole’. In other words, going through training, no matter your color, you understand that you have each other’s backs.”

He believes the Tuskegee Airmen deserves all the credit for the evolution. Collick holds his time in service in high regard, citing he gained an understanding of respect and timeliness. He urges African Americans to join the military, because he thinks they build great people.

Collick holds his time there in high regard – saying he learned respect and timeliness, and urges all African Americans to consider joining the military, because he says they build great people.

“I think the military is a good start, and I think for minorities, most of us don’t have direction, most of us don’t have discipline.”

In Collick’s opinion, leadership is a crucial personal attribute. “I think a good leader has the respect of people, they know where they are going, and they are able to pull people up to higher levels, because the goal is for one day for them to take your place.”