What color is courage?: Why You Should Go See That New 'Red Tails' Movie

An Opinion.

"Straighten up, fly right"... to the Academy Awards.

I can appreciate a man in uniform. I can appreciate a good George Lucas movie. I can also appreciate an Action/ Adventure/ Drama-historical-war film lionizing some of the greatest heroes of the American military since minutemen. What I cannot appreciate it the "fun fact" that this weekend's silver screen release "Red Tails" had been put on the back-burner since 1988 because no major studio would fund the project based on the belief that an all black cast would be "unmarketable".

I'm confused. This isn't the 1860's or the 1950's right? 

For those of you who didn't have the good fortune of taking a African American history course in college (something I highly recommend), the Tuskegee Airmen who are featured in this film were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. During a time when Jim Crow laws ruled the South with de jure segregation, the members of the 332nd Fighter Group and 447th Bombardment Group  braved their country's racial segregation during World War II to maintain an impressive escort record and be nationally recognized with Congressional Gold Medals.

Now that the history lesson is over, can someone please explain to me how anyone could ignore that "despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction" and fought with purpose for a country that wasn't willing to fight for them? As an American, I am disappointed in the job we have done as a society to recognize heroes such as these and with that, I urge you to do your part and see "Red Tails" at a theater near you.  

Have you seen it? What did you think? Tell us here, on Facebook or on Twitter by following us at @COSMOpolitique