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We’re commemorating Veterans Day by having a conversation with three members of the Detroit Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI). Host Stephen Henderson sits down with Chapter President Tony Stevenson and two military veterans, Capt. Ashley Richardson and Norman Folson, for an in-depth conversation about African Americans serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Folson reflects on his time in the Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam Wars and the racism he encountered. Capt. Richardson also recalls some of the prejudice she encountered during her long career as a nurse in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Folson and Richardson also talk about taking part in this year’s Honor Flights. These are trips to the nation’s memorials for American veterans, which are organized by the nonprofit Honor Flight Network.
Stevenson talks about the mission of the Detroit Chapter TAI to preserve the legacy of the original Tuskegee Airmen and to inspire young people to pursue careers in aviation, aerospace and STEM. He also discusses his current civilian duties as a captain in the Civil Air Patrol, which is an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, and the importance of remembering the contributions of African American veterans.