In the United States, African Americans comprise 13.6 percent of the population. However, the number of minority pilots in both commercial and military aviation continually hovers around 2 percent.
Synopsis
“Tuskeegee” is a documentary film that tells the story of a group of black college age pilots who are dedicated to keeping the legacy of the Tuskeegee Airmen alive the by becoming professional aviators and inspiring the black community to take to the skies and change the racial imbalance in the world of aviation.
The film centers around a cast of dedicated students at Tuskeegee University who are on scholarship with the Red Tails Scholarship Fund. This group of highly motivated students challenges the misconceptions of millennial’s work ethics as they manage a full schedule from a prestigious university while self-governing their flight school and flight education.
Their hopes are not short sighted as a career matters, but what matters most is keeping the Tuskeegee Airmen legacy alive and inspiring more young black people to pursue aviation and hopefully combat the racial imbalance in the world of aviation.
History
In 1940 the US Military decided to no longer barre African Americans from flying in the armed forces and began a pilot training program on a small airstrip in Tuskeegee, Alabama. This select group of Tuskegee Airmen became known as the “Red Tails” and were the first African Americans trained by the military and permitted to engage in combat operations.
The “Red Tails” became combat legends as their bravery and heroism in the skies proved that African Americans could not only fly, but also thrive as pilots.
Race & Aviation
Today we find ourselves in a similar situation to the racial imbalance in aviation that we found prior to the first flights of the original “Red Tails. In the United States, African Americans comprise 13.6 percent of the population. However, the number of minority pilots in both commercial and military aviation continually hovers around 2 percent.
Our Mission
We believe that the power of filmmaking and storytelling is the best way to raise awareness and spark a call to action for the masses. By producing this film, we will awaken new audiences to the story of these young black aviators and give them a powerful tool that enables them to be heard and grow their cause. Additionally, this film will serve as an asset for the Red Tails Scholarship fund to use towards fundraising, partnerships, and creating more scholarship opportunities.