Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc

Interview from 1987 with Lincoln Ragsdale, Sr. Tuskegee Airman

Tell me, have you noticed how interested your audience is when you
include something personal about the airmen? For example, a funny
story about their neighborhood, the other kids in their family, growing
up with their brothers and sisters, what their teachers did keep them
focused, and who, outside of the family, took a genuine interest in their
abilities? And then, you suddenly realize that they are listening to you,
really listening. The texting has stopped and the side conversations
have ended. They are attentive, very attentive.
So sharing their insights, experiences and opinions in their own words
will add wings to your presentations. You won’t find these stories online,
on Wikipedia, or on the Red Tail Pilots page. Well, maybe you will after
this publication.
Introduction – When this interview was conducted, Lincoln Ragsdale Sr.
held the position of TAI Chairman, Corporate Solicitation Committee.
Today you will read a portion of that interview.
Lincoln Ragsdale in his own words…

“In 1972 the dominant topic was how to, make this a national
organization at our reunion in Detroit. Now, in its 17th year of existence
we have several programs of some significance.
The relevance or significance that this has to our young people (our
special history and triumphs)? Young people as well as all blacks aren’t
aware enough of the beautiful records of the Tuskegee Airmen, the
famed group who did much to change the image of the black man and
black people who didn’t even like themselves. Black people even
thought by lightening their skins it would indicate they were smarter.
The Tuskegee experience changed my whole idea about myself. To
keep our Tuskegee accomplishment alive, young black people need to
know their true history. They need to know we had had to prove
ourselves and our ability in a combat and highly technical situation. We
had guts to be able to fly planes. I think back to our era and how
dangerous and difficult it was to fly planes back then in contrast to all
the things being done to make planes safe now. I am proud of the
bravery and endurance that enabled me to live to see today and to be
able to say I am not only an American, I am a Tuskegee Airman.
We proved ourselves, there will never be any questions of our ability,
brain power, or strength. We shattered the myth forever. We came
through unbearable conditions. When you read about the kind of
attitude they had after being under such pressure you’ll these ken did
not accept they excelled and rebelled. They fought like hell to change
the system.
The first 40 years of my life I fought humiliation and the horrible
conditions we were subjected to instead of putting all my energy into
living with the way things were and making a better life for my family

under those circumstances. I tried to change the law and demonstrate
to the people how and why we should be integrated.
As a youth living in Oklahoma, I experiences self-hatred at being black
and was called ugly because I was black. I was told that I was inferior.
Fighting this battle to find out who you are, I had Mitstifer images at all
that I could look to. Of course, they had successful black men but they
weren’t accepted in America society. They were always successful on
a standard of their blackness. Tuskegee gave me an opportunity to meet
people and go into the arena and help change my image and remove
some of the scars of self-hate. Tuskegee gave me the chance to prove
and help myself. I met and saw men who had to prove themselves. They
had gone overseas and come back to realize they were competing
successfully with whites in an Air Force designed for whites.
Tuskegee allowed me to like, respect, and honor myself. And, to see
many other black people who felt the same way. In my life I entered into
the game instead of watching it go by. It gave me the confidence to fight
the battle of life.

These words from Lincoln Ragsdale remind me that I don’t get to sit back
and wait for someone else to save TAI. I don’t get to wash my hands and let
someone else decide the fate of this organization. I don’t get to say, TAI is
just another NRO. I don’t get to let some newcomer run my organization into
the ground.
I get to do everything I can do to help TAI thrive. Lincoln Ragsdale’s words
remind me what I must do. Lincoln Ragsdale’s words remind me of what WE
must do.

Dear reader, clicking on the link below will take you to an article in
French, but do not be alarmed, you can click on translate to English
located in the upper right corner of the page. It’s interesting to me to read
what people in other countries think about Tuskegee Airmen. Here’s your
chance for you to step out of a U. S. state of mind.
Tusgeskee, les pilotes noirs des Etats Unis d’Amérique à Lattes

Envoyé depuis l’application Mail Orange

HOWEVER…I have copied and pasted it below for your
convenience. Enjoy!
Tuskegee
By following this link , you will find the article from “MidiLibre” dated
September 21, 2011, reporting on the ceremony in tribute to the
black US pilots of “Tuskegee” , shot down on August 12, 1944 over
the town of Lattes.
A great moment of remembrance in which survivors of this era, the
United States Consul, the Mayor of Lattes, the Lattes Veterans, and a
delegation of Villeneuve Veterans participated.
For those who can’t follow the link, you can find the article
transcribed below.

Two American pilots forever honored with a stele
Midi Libre
09/23/2011, 06:00
By coincidence, the day after the crash of a tourist plane in the
Fangouse area, the memory of two American pilots, shot down
during a mission over Lattes on August 12, 1944, was honored. The
ceremony brought together around a hundred people on the
forecourt of the Saint-Jean cemetery, where a commemorative stele
was unveiled. It forever recalls the commitment, in the reconquest of
France, of Lieutenant Joseph E. Gordon, who died in combat, and
that of Lieutenant Richard Macon, who was wounded and taken
prisoner.

Among the civilian and military figures present, three former
American pilots were honored, including Lieutenant Colonel
Alexander Jefferson, who was also part of the famous Tuskegee
Airmen, the African-American pilots of the famous 332nd Fighter
Group. These aviators had to fight against prejudice before facing
the enemy.
Also present were Philipp Richards, the United States Consul in
Marseille, Cyril Meunier, Mayor of Lattes, representatives of the
Rhône Association for Aerial Remembrance (Arsa), and local
veterans’ associations. Two detachments presented the honors. One
was American cadets training in Salon-de-Provence, the other was
Air Force cadets, also training in Salon. In his speech, Philipp
Richards spoke of a special day he would never forget before
humorously citing the stereotypes that differentiate us but also the
strength of France and the United States. For his part, Cyril Meunier

evoked this dark period in the history of humanity shared by both
countries before stigmatizing today’s “forces of evil,” terrorism and
religious fanaticism. The flag-raising ceremony, wreath-laying
ceremony, and national anthems punctuated this beautiful
ceremony. It concluded with the folding of the US banner by two
American cadets. A highly symbolic moment, this final tribute to the
fallen pilots.

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That’s all for now.
I love you madly!
L. Sunnye Simpson
!TFAM Editor and publisher