SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS (Sources include The Associated Press, San Antonio Express-News, and statements from key lawmakers and officials.)
Bipartisan outcry erupts after reports of historic video removal, with advocates calling the Airmen’s story ‘American history, not DEI.’
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (left), U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (center), and U.S. Senator Katie Britt (right) stand united in defense of the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy, calling for the immediate reinstatement of historical training videos honoring the nation’s first Black military pilots. Their bipartisan efforts underscore the importance of preserving this pivotal chapter in American history.
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) has urged the U.S. Air Force to restore a Tuskegee Airmen history video recently removed from military instruction following executive orders issued by former President Donald Trump targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content in federal programs.
“The Tuskegee Airmen bravely fought and died for our freedom before this nation even granted them full benefits of citizenship,” Sewell said in a statement. “To strip them from the Air Force curriculum is an outrageous betrayal of our values as Americans. Their heroism is not ‘DEI.’ It is American history. I’m calling on the Air Force to immediately reverse this decision. We will not let our history be erased.”
The Tuskegee Airmen, also known as the “Red Tails,” were the first Black military pilots in the U.S. Their all-Black 332nd Fighter Group earned one of the lowest loss rates of all bomber escort units in World War II, helping to pave the way for the integration of the U.S. military and the wider civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Backlash Across Party Lines
News of the video’s removal sparked bipartisan criticism. Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile) condemned the decision, calling it “pathetic, disgraceful, and disrespectful” to the legacy of the Airmen, the city of Tuskegee, and the state of Alabama.
“You cannot ignore history,” Tuskegee Mayor Lawrence Haygood said in support of Sewell’s statement. “Because of their determination for their country, they fought in exceptional ways, and it’s been recognized worldwide. You cannot hide that. If you change our history, we won’t accept that.”
The controversy followed Trump’s January 20th executive order banning DEI-related initiatives across federal agencies. According to the Air Force’s 37th Training Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, the removal of the video was part of a review process aimed at implementing Trump’s directives.
While Air Force officials initially declined to comment, General David W. Allvin, the Air Force’s Chief of Staff, later denied that Tuskegee Airmen materials had been permanently removed. “When policies change, it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure all outdated policies are removed, and new ones are implemented,” Allvin said in a statement. “No curriculum or content highlighting the Tuskegee Airmen or Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) has been removed from basic military training.”
Advocates Demand Action
Mark Brown, president and CEO of Tuskegee University and a retired Air Force officer, emphasized the significance of the Airmen’s story beyond debates about DEI.
“The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is not one of diversity and inclusion scrutiny; rather, it’s an American story of the evolution of air power and inclusion of all available talent,” Brown said. “This story is for everyone and remains essential to our identity as the world’s greatest Air Force.”
Brown added that Tuskegee University’s aviation program, which began in 2023 at the historic Moton Field, continues to honor the Airmen’s legacy by training a new generation of aviation professionals.
The non-profit Tuskegee Airmen Inc. also called for immediate action to reinstate the video. In a statement, the organization said, “The service and sacrifice of the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs are vital parts of American history that must not be erased or diminished.”
A Historical Perspective
Historians have also weighed in on the issue. Wayne Flynt, professor emeritus at Auburn University, highlighted Alabama’s critical role in housing the program at Tuskegee University, one of the nation’s most prominent historically Black colleges.
“In order to reflect the unity of the nation and tap into one-tenth of the American population who were not white, full mobilization meant African Americans in all phases of warfare, including aviation,” Flynt explained. “Their stunning success in air combat helped force the military to revise doctrines and eventually led to President Truman’s 1948 Executive Order No. 9981 to integrate the U.S. military.”
The Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy has been celebrated nationwide. In 2007, President George W. Bush awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal, calling their contributions “a shining example of courage and excellence.”
Ongoing Debate
While officials like Republican U.S. Senator Katie Britt have accused federal bureaucrats of “malicious compliance” with Trump’s executive order, Britt acknowledged the enduring importance of the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy.
“Their story isn’t about DEI,” Britt said. “It’s about greatness shattering a glass ceiling. Their heroics will continue to inspire the next generation of courageous, selfless American service members.”
The city of Tuskegee honors the Airmen annually on March 7th with a day of recognition. “Whenever I’m traveling, and I mention the ‘City of Tuskegee’ or the ‘Tuskegee Airmen,’ people recognize their contributions worldwide,” Mayor Haygood noted.
As the debate over the video’s removal continues, advocates stress that the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen remains an indelible part of American history.
