A Tuskegee Airman Remembers: An Interview with George Porter
“You be the one to control your life, not somebody else.”
George Porter shared the above message and more during last month’s visit to Martin Billings’ 11th grade US History class at Monterey Trail High School. He came to talk about his experiences during World War II as [...]
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A Tuskegee Airman Remembers: An Interview with George Porter
“You be the one to control your life, not somebody else.”
George Porter shared the above message and more during last month’s visit to Martin Billings’ 11th grade US History class at Monterey Trail High School. He came to talk about his experiences during World War II as a member of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen program.
This event was Mr. Porter’s second visit to Billing’s classroom. A year ago, as part of Black History Month, he joined keynote presenter Alexander Jefferson for a 3-way interactive video conference. A Google search will bring up an extensive list of links for both these honored members of what came to be known as the Tuskegee Airmen.
Formed amid controversy in 1942, the Tuskegee Airmen showed the nation its black soldiers were equal in skill and patriotism to their white counterparts. George Porter served as a aircraft mechanic for the Tuskegee division. Before, during, and after the war, George Porter’s story is one of remarkable resiliency and a determination not to let anyone or anything stop him from doing his best. During the classroom visit, in addition to the Tuskegee experiences, he shared his first-hand encounters with racism, segregation, and living through decades of Jim Crow laws.
Now 89 and still highly active with the Tuskegee team, Mr. Porter remains committed to making sure the public, especially young people, understand how eager and willing he and other African Americans were to fight for America, despite the government’s past record of treating them as second-class citizens.
Thanks to host Martin Billings and his student interviewers – and an on-going partnership between the Sacramento Educational Cable Consortium and Elk Grove Unified School District’s Technology Services – students across the nation will be able to listen to the 40-minute presentation and Q & A session, thereby honoring George Porter’s hope that the struggles and triumphs of the Tuskegee Airmen will not be forgotten.
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