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Tuskegee Airmen

Definition

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African-American military pilots who fought in World War II. They formed the 332nd Fighter Group and 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.

Analogy

Imagine if you're part of an underdog sports team that everyone doubts because they've never seen anyone from your background succeed before. But then you prove them wrong by not only playing well but becoming one of the best teams out there - that's what it was like for Tuskegee Airmen.

Related terms

Segregation: The enforced separation of different racial groups in a country, community, or establishment. Despite segregation being prevalent at this time, Tuskegee Airmen still served their country with distinction.

Jim Crow Laws: These were state and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. The Tuskegee Airmen challenged these stereotypes during WWII.

Executive Order 9981: This was an executive order issued by President Harry S. Truman in 1948 which ended segregation in the military, a move influenced by the performance of units like the Tuskegee Airmen.