Photo By Airman 1st Class Taylor Shelton | Dr. LaToya Brackett, Eastern Washington University Africana coordinator, poses next to...... read more read more
Subscribe
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - February is African American History Month. The theme for this year is 'Hallowed Grounds: sites of African American memories'.
AAHM traces as far back as 1925, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, conceived Negro History Week.
Dr. Woodson's ambition was to have an annual commemoration of African-Americans' achievements to cement their place in the nation and usher in a new age of racial equality. Throughout the history of the United States, African Americans have significantly contributed to the rich heritage and culture of the country in all areas of society.
"I feel it is very important for our Airmen to recognize the importance of African American History Month," said Senior Master Sgt. Tomsanna Farley, 92nd Air Refueling Wing equal opportunity director. "This year the theme is about the stories of African Americans who have paved the way for our freedom today."
2016 marks the 75th anniversary of the most famous African-American unit of World War II, which was the 332nd Fighter Group manned by the Tuskegee Airmen.
When the U.S. military was segregated, there were myths that black men were not successful fighters. The Tuskegee Airmen proved this theory wrong by flying more than 200 combat missions in World War II and lost none of their own to enemy fire.
Their second-to-none fighting record was instrumental in burying myths about correlations concerning race and combat skills and paved the way to full integration of the U.S. military.
"These events, people and sites are things we don't seem to speak about until the month of February, but if we are educated on our past, we are more likely to not repeat it," said Farley.
To see the fact of the day visit: https://www.deomi.org/SpecialObservance/MonthlyFactsoftheDay.cfm.
| Date Taken: | 02.05.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2016 11:29 |
| Story ID: | 193270 |
| Location: | FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 36 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, February is African American History Month, by A1C Taylor Shelton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
