Red Tails – the story of the Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen, an all Black fighter unit formed in 1941,  prepared and trained to become pursuit pilots in a war that many of the Army brass never intended for them to fight in. The George Lucas film, Red Tails stars Cuba Gooding Jr and paints the story of how the Tuskegee commanding officers and pilots overcame the Army’s enshrined policies of racism and separation of the races to earn the right to fight for their country.

The movie focuses on the relationship between the unit’s captain, Marty “Easy” Julian (Nate Parker) and his 2nd in command, Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo). As the movie opens, the unit is still being denied the opportunity to fly in a significant combat role. The group’s commander, Colonel A. J. Bullard (Terrence Howard), is working to change that before the war ends.

Red Tails was a labour of love for George Lucas, it took 23 years to make. In an interview on the Daily Show Lucas told of the difficulties he had trying to make the film. Lucas said:  “It’s because it’s an all-black movie. There’s no major white roles in it at all…I showed it to all of them and they said no. We don’t know how to market a movie like this.”