Black Horizons; 3628; Tuskegee Airmen

We're going to talk about the Pittsburgh connection to the Tuskegee Airmen and how a local group is working to let the nation know. Plus, meet one man who is writing, dreaming, and hoping to find a way to curb the amount of violence in the neighborhoods. First, we're going to talk about the Tuskegee Airmen. How many of you know that many pilots were from this area and that many of their families are still here? Joining me now are Regis Babana Senior Researcher at the Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society and the President of the Organization, Mary Jane Gillam. They are here to talk about the search for information to salute these heroes of World War II aviation. Ms. Gillam, first tell us about the Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society. Well, the Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society was founded in 1967 by a missionary by the name of Daniel B. Matthews himself, who migrated to Pittsburgh from the Philadelphia area and he opened up a post house in Soically and from there he founded the Daniel B. Matthews A.

M. E. Xi in church. And today that church is one of the oldest societies in Soically and their purpose is to promote and to preserve and to do research of the African American history in the Soically area. Well, let's talk to your researcher about some of that ongoing research then. You know, I've seen a lot of the pictures and you know that we've talked to Benny Cole a historian out in your area who wrote her book about Soically and Edgeworth and the Black Population that was out there, fabulous set of pictures of the Y of World War I, unbelievable pictures in the town square of Black GIs going off. You have a real rich history in that area, don't you? You know, Jane and was because of that we undertook this study and because everywhere we looked at Embeddy's book in particular, there was a constant mention, ex, Tuskegee Airman, why? Tuskegee Airman. So we were so fascinated by that.

We did a study, a structural study with all we could find in the Ohio Valley plus two metaphors figures out of Pittsburgh and the one woman who became the first licensed pilot in the United States and that would be Betsy Coleman. That was our study and boy we found out that eight men, young men from pioneer families in Soically raised their hands to enlist in the Tuskegee Airman project. Now that's an amazing number from one small town in the one small area. Yeah, no question because and you know what we found was not only did they do and go but in moments of truth they really distinguished themselves in fights against some of the bigotry and racism that they found. It's quite a remarkable story as we go through these pictures. I'll try to mention the pictures and you brought some along. So let's take a look at some of them and if you describe them who is now this is Billy Johnston born and raised on Chadwick Street in Pittsburgh.

He went on and got his wings in Tuskegee and afterwards he was the only one of the eight that we found that became a pilot full time. He went on to flew corporate pilot for Ohio Bell then he joined the FAA and became an examiner and instructor and he recently retired but that's Billy Johnston. That whole history of blacks and aviation is really something else and you mentioned the first female pilot who is this? This is William Gilliam. He was born in Edgeworth next door to swiftly, raised there but he was one of the eight that took off, got his commission and became a pilot in the 99th. All right, let's keep going. Now this is interesting. Billy Curtis, Billy Curtis got his commission, flew in Europe, came back and joined the 47th, 477 bomber squad and interesting story about Billy and someone you'll meet just a little

later, Mitchell Hagenbatham, but this man's father also made history in there. It's the father, Billy Curtis senior, they were out of swiftly families and yet when the war department doing World War I, he's an officer in World War I, either these three men, John Carter Robinson and Don Jefferson who were very first commissioned officer in the U .S. Army or they were among the first and they set up this field 3151 and this group went to Europe and distinguished themselves in battle. In World War I and World War I and he was the father of Billy Curtis because a lot of the courage that this man had, he passed on to the son, want to say quickly that this 350 first was part of the 92nd Buffalo group, that old rock group that became so famous. Obviously that was back in the days of where segregation was there.

Now who do we have here? Here we have Warren Cooler, believe it or not, he's a member of the Swickley men's club. That's the man in the hat. He's a man in the hat and he was a white bomber pilot in Italy and he tells a wonderful story about one day he was starting on his way to his bombing run and this plane come out of nowhere and several days next to him we looked out at a red tail on the back and his co -pilot said chief that's a black pilot and they couldn't believe it or what he said. Yes I know that's the 99th. The key thing about this man is he revealed to us something that is generally known. He said the reason why all the white pilots in the main would always ask for the 99th is because when they went in on the bombing run the 99th men, the black pilots, stayed with them and went through the full one to protect them. They didn't just escort them to the bombing. Others escorted to the bombing and turned tail. The 99th stayed with them and so they

went to their commanding officers and this man was one saying from now on give us the 99th. Is that Ken in the middle there with the bomb? That's Ken Whitlock. Okay I thought that was him. He was the first Marine to volunteer from Alligua County and he has a reason. He's part of the Mofford Portemoreso as they call a monkey boy. That's right. So he has that long history too. All right now who is this? This is Jim Addison. Jim is a remarkable guy. He wore two hats when he got to Tuskegee. He went there personally to enlist only to be told he was too old. But he went back again. All to fly and he went back again. Well what he did was stay in there enjoying the service unit and went to Italy. But there's two stories unfolding here with this young man everywhere. He became the PIO the 99th. The PIO, the public information. Oh okay. And everywhere he went he founded a newspaper. In Italy he founded the Sentinel. And everywhere that they were assigned he managed to put together a newsletter because

he was a journalist. Does that still exist today? I mean what a fact. There are copies of what I'm told somewhere we're looking for it and maybe if we get the grant we're after, we can find copies of that. Isn't this Coleman? This is the female part. She was in this study. She, George Bolden who we'll talk about. And James Wiley was kind of like the metaphor of all others outside of Swickley that we wanted to know more about. This young lady from Chicago became the first black female pilot in the country. Unable to find school. Oh you should see her with her plate. But she had to go to Europe to France to get her license. But when she came back she just became the darling of the flying circuses and whatnot. Do crowds everywhere until one day her plane went in. This is a niche, this is George Bolden. George is one of the Pittsburgh one born and raised here in Pittsburgh. His mother by the way, I just would say this quickly, was a top chemical assistant to

George Washington cover. Carver, Tuskegee, his mother works. And all the Bolden's are graduates of Tuskegee, except George here. George went in and listed, got his wings, became a bomber pilot. And then when his time was over he came back to Pittsburgh and later joined RCA Victor, one of his first black engineers. But that's George Bolden. The other one is Jim Wiley, we need to find out more about him because he did lead a fighter group in shutdown, seven German planes. One of the first in eights, that was the World War I unit. That's right. But this was there, Banner. This was there. Field artillery. Yes, that's what they created for themselves. You know, it reminds me of that courier, double V campaign. I know this is World War I, but that was World War II campaign. When they said victory at home and victory overseas, too, they probably had it the other way around. Victory overseas and victory at home because they felt they were fighting a double fight against

the the access powers in World War II and the fight of discrimination here at home. And everybody wanted to serve to show that they were as American. It's everybody else that they bled, read American blood, and that they were as courageous in fighting for the free democratic principles that America supposedly stood up. Absolutely. And it gets a little better because it was Bob Van in 1932 who had led a police nationwide drive one day that the military set up an all black unit. So the black could show demonstrate their courage and battle. I understand that Bob Van played a part in that early aviation. Also, with that first flight that blacks made across the nation, not only in covering it, but putting his money behind it to make sure when they had mechanical problems that the plane could get to Washington, they could meet with Senator Truman, who would later become President Truman about more matters coming in. Absolutely, absolutely. And what Bob's thesis was, he brought down the wrath of Roy Wilkins, Walter White, who was saying, well, why would you

want an all black fighting unit? Here we are trying to get integration and you want to sell unit. Well, what Van had in mind was that 1925 ruling by the war department that no blacks ever would fight in combat because they liked the daring do and the courage to do it and Van knew that. So he said the only way to prove it once and for all is to create an all black unit. Mr. Gillam, let me bring you back into this. In August, you all plan to, with the Matthews Historical Society, have a big celebration for many of these pilots, many of whom are from your area, is that right? Yes, we are. We are planning to have in August, on August the 4th, at the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, in so quickly, a welcoming home celebration for those surviving families of the Tuskegee Airmen, at 1130. And what will happen at this celebration? At the celebration, we'll be honoring Billy Hagen -Batham, those that have returned and honoring them at the luncheon. What do you think this kind of service to the country says to our young people of your area, anywhere

across America? Well, I think to our young people, in terms of our young African -American people, it shows them that there were significant contributions made to history, you know what I mean, through the African -American community, and that they too can achieve their goals if they set them and reach them and attain them. Mr. Robon, is you a veteran? I wonder what you think. Well, you know, I just want to add one thing here. Two of the men that were going to honor in August, or the Hagen -Batham brothers, Mitchell and his son, his brother, Robert. Both of them went to Tuskegee and became pilots, but the thing is, Robert's son is going to be the guest speaker. He's now the National Executive Attorney, Executive Director of the National Tuskegee Airmen Association. So we're looking forward to that. Overall, I think it's a tremendous tremendous story about the courage of these people, and what they

went through to become heroes. You know, you and the Navy, right? Right. My father was in the Navy when they would let us be anything but cooks. Right. And they used to say, he used to tell me all the time, and he said, all these guys talk about keeping flat, and he said, they used to say, keep them fried. Because they were cooks, that's all, but they were that black folks, me. I've read and seen on Tony Brown's Journal accounts of women going off the college saying, my father would flew in World War Two, and the professor's just just kind of saying, are you out of your mind? They would bring their father's photo albums and show them into planes, and that kind of stuff. And the professor claimed that they were all doctored. This is a part of American history that not enough people know about. Indeed. For example, this Robert, who was some pilot, went on to become a orthopedic surgeon. Right from swiftly, and did his internship at swiftly hospital, and he's coming home, and with his brother Mitchell. So it's going to be quite an

affair. It looks super. Ms. Gillam, you're urging everybody to turn out for this? Yes, I'm certainly, and we're looking for everyone to come and join us. We want to have plenty of good food, and it's going to be a lovely celebration. What can you say is swikly your home? Is it currently our reside outside of swikly, which is borderline. We'll call it your home. Everybody's going to claim it right there. So you live right in the city limits. What do you think of that area and the contributions that blacks have made to America who've been out from that area? I really think that that area is probably Pennsylvania's most quiet kept secret. Yet I mean, there's a lot of contributions that the African Americans have made that are right there in swikly. It brings a sense of pride as an African American. From business to services of the country to people who became surgeons, all that sort of stuff. Exactly. And they fought the big battle, too, because Hagenbach, the man Curtis, when they arrived for the advanced bomber training, they found an illegal white officers club on the base, and men

out there to keep them out, decorated just back from Europe. So what they did, 101 on a given morning, got in there in the form and walked straight through the front door they come. Stop this. If you didn't stop this, I'm going to back in my barber and take this thing out. Well, thank you both for being here. We hope that it's a great celebration. I know it will be. Thank you. If you have any information that you would like to help in providing information for this celebration, please get in touch with the Daniel B. Matthews Historical Society at Post Office Box 854 Swikly PA 15143. Or you can call them at 412 741 4239. It's 412 741 4239. Spring is sprung with May colors and they help you get out and about. Here's the community calendar that we call on the horizon. Wait, wait a minute.

From the heat back to the back on the Mac and I know that the way I keep the rocks on the floor if you're having a event that you'd like folks to know about, send it

to on the horizon. 280 -25th Avenue Pittsburgh PA 15213. This month you can watch two different shows that may appeal to your eye and ears. Let's watch and listen. Food is a powerful message in a language everyone can speak. It conveys a history, a sense of place and circumstance. It is perhaps the one thing a culture clings to with the greatest passion against the tide of mainstream America. I'm Marcus Samson. To food to us. Everybody wants to be able to sing like Rachel's. Just an old sweet song keeps your joy all my mind. I said show one of the

only Rachel's next time on American Masters. Watch the meaning of food and food in culture on Thursday, May 12th at 9 p .m. and American Masters Rachel's the Genius of Soul on Wednesday May 18th at 9 p .m. both right here on WQED TV 13. At ATS Chester Engineers we are proud of our long -standing commitment to developing engineers and future leaders. Through scholarships at Carnegie Mellon, Pitt and Lincoln Universities, partnerships with historically black colleges and universities, mentoring, internships, we create a brighter future and bring greater diversity to our field. We invest in our communities, ATS Chester Engineers, solving tomorrow's problems today. Joining me now is Norman Colbert, a single father of four who has written two books that he hopes will help turn around the

violence among the very young. Mr. Colbert, I have to start here. We always hear about a single mother of four that kind of a single father of four. You didn't marry any of your baby dad? Mama's? Well, I was married to all my children. Okay, all right. And then we got divorced, so I just called myself a single father. And you're still involved in their lives, helping to pay for the things that they need and raise them and that sort of stuff? Yes, they're all grown. They're all grown. You look a little young for that man. For the all grown. 49 years old. Oh, okay, all right. Not ashamed of me. All right. So you have written a couple of books and one of them has to do with the violence that you think has a solution to some of this violence, is that correct? That's correct. Inside the black community, today we're witnessing a death and destruction on a daily basics. So back in the year 2000, I wrote a book titled Streets of Death inside the black community.

It's like a written prescription to help deal with the problem of death and destruction inside our community. This is the book. The cover. What does that show? Two coffins? Two coffins, yes. Okay. Have you personally suffered or witnessed the death of many young people? Yes, yes. I had a cousin kill. I had friends killed and this has happened in every day. Well, what's the solution? We're seeing again, as you say, it's happening every day. What's the solution that you propose? Well, I think the solution is we have to return our young children's mindsets back to the first of all, the creator. God, that would change their way of thinking as far as like right now. They don't feel like life is worth anything. You know, they just point a gun at you, pull the triggers, they don't care if your little daughter or your grandchildren's walking down the street. If someone's in their way, they're going to pull out their guns and start shooting. So the

solution to that is, is first to recognize that there is a God. And God helps to change your life for the better. And I just believe that we've gotten away from our use of, they don't know anything about the concept of God. I'm quite sure like their grandmothers or their parents mentioned God and their lives before. But they don't have the realization of what the concept of God really is. God is greater than anything we can imagine on earth. And perhaps they think that they're the greatest thing on earth. Exactly. And never give any thought to some prime move or somewhere who was greater than they are. Exactly. You think that's what it is? That's exactly what it is. How did your book address that? Well, I suggested that some of our preachers are Emams in the Islamic community or the rabbis and the Jewish communities. Just get out and about and communicate with our use again. Like when I was

coming up, I came up in the church and later on I took on the Islamic faith, which I have in my life right now. But when I was coming up in the church, he was seated preacher in the neighborhood. He would walk up and down the street to the store. And we said to him, so I'm scared to walk for the very reason that you just don't have to. Yeah, but see that that's when I'm talking about you have to fear God. Especially a man of of God, you don't fear the use out there because I really don't think that our use are that sick in the man where they'll just pull out their guns and shoot a preacher if he's walking up and down the street or shoot a e -mong for coming to talk to them in the neighborhood. So that God consciousness has to be seen again within our streets and your book addresses that. You also, and you're wearing something that you have a lot of clothing that you develop. And I guess it would fit in with some of the big stuff that the kids are wearing. Is that

a mob up, mob up, moving up brothers back up, moving up brothers back up as an hour, moving our brothers back up. Okay, mob on the face of it, mob though, is that a good name for stopping violence? I don't know. Well, you know, I'm in the mob. No, no, we wouldn't misinterpret that. You think? Well, I don't think so because I'm going to make sure that I put the right concept behind the clothing line. Like, I'm wearing a club part of it right now. And I explain to people, they say, where's you get that? It means moving our brothers back up. And it's kind of like the Fubu line. Exactly. And so where's this available? Where can people find it? You can call and order the clothing line at area code 4127271872. It's mostly over the fall, I don't know what to say. Yes, I think. You get the number one one time? 4127271872. And your book, where's it on set?

Actually, you could call the same number and get the book. Yes, yes. Because I wrote this book five years ago and it's no longer with my publishing company, but I have all the copies to be sold. So members of your mosque should go out and work with these young people. Oh, yes. We have a, we're trying to develop what we call a new African community based on the teachings of the Holy Quran and the studies of our Holy Prophet, teaching the lesson of your point. And so they'll research the faith and life of the prophet and maybe come to some understanding of God and the creator of higher power. That's right. All right. Well, thank you, Ms. Kowal. We appreciate you being here much like with your efforts. Anyone who can stem the tide of violence in the community, we would support. Okay. Sunday, May 8th is Mother's Day. And we'd like to wish all the mothers in every shape and form a happy Mother's Day. Well, that'll about do it for this

episode of Black Horizons. Be sure to join us next week and every Friday and Sunday right here on WQEDTV 13 for more interesting chit chat. I'm Chris Moore and for all of us here at Black Horizons, have a good evening. Bye -bye.