Andrew Wieting

War: an arena where the foe sees no color, sex or heritage – yet until 1948, the United States government and its armed forces did. Due primarily to the success of the 332nd fighter group of the U.S. Army Air Corps, popularly referred to as the Tuskegee Airmen, President Truman integrated the U.S. armed forces in 1948.

Retired Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson of the 332nd fighter group spoke at the Performing Arts Center about the struggle for equality.

“As a Tuskegee airmen, black male and human being, we tried to do our duty. Many of us worked our whole life and are still working in the fight for complete equality barred from any prejudice,” he said.

Jefferson’s story begins with the fight for equality and ends in the elite performance of his fellow airmen; however, the movement for some, like Jefferson, is still being waged. Prior to the Tuskegee Airmen, no U.S. military