No, I didn't go to see the George Lucas film. The famous director/producer of Star Wars stated he personally financed this expensive production because Hollywood wouldn't do it. He claimed it was " because its' overseas audience would be too limited." He made it into a fighter action movie ala Stars Wars scenes, according to Roger Ebert. He also largely skipped over the extreme racism and prejudice evident in the South and the military at that time. So I did one better. I went to hear Joe Gomer speak at the Galaxy library in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Gomer is one of the few surviving Tuskegee Airmen. At 91 and living in Duluth, he is sharp as a tack. Apparently the only suviving member of the famed group of pilots who fought off Nazi fighter plane attacking American bombers over Italy, he spoke to an overflow crowd in the atrium of the library. The crowds response was very enthsiastic to his reminiscences. I enjoyed the afternoon thoroughly....
7 comments:
I'm glad the movie Red Tails has made the history of black aviators in WW2 more known to general audiences. Bessie Coleman
was the first African American to get an international pilot's license. Her brief life and living in the first 25 years of the 20th century when racial prejudice was so predominant in American culture eclipsed her role in aviation history, but her life is phenomenal and inspiring. I wish someone would make a movie about her life.
Jack Rogers, another surviving Tuskeegee Airman, is married to my former next-door neighbor. Sad to say, Jack's health has been failing for a while now. After the war he attended law school and served for many years as a juvenile court judge, so he has served his country and his community throughout his lifetime.
What a fun way to spend an afternoon!
He sounds like a wonderful man. Glad you got to hear him speak.
What a hero! It must have been fascinating listening to him replay those events. I have been wanting to see this movie. Now I will view it with a little more critique. It appalls me that the producer felt the need to gloss over the racism. That is done far too often. The truth needs to put out there for everyone to hear.
How wonderful that you got to listen to this living legend.
that sounds like a wonderful event and time with Gomer. Good choice.
Post a Comment