The Tuskegee Airmen

"Every colored pilot in the 99th went through his private hell to wear those wings. Each of those men carries not only the dream of becoming American Military Aviators but the hopes of an entire people as well. Am I the only one here that understands what that means? I was brought up to believe that beneath it all Americans are a decent people with an abiding sense of integrity and fair play. The cheers I heard across this country when Joe Louis and Jesse Owens humiliated Hitler's "Master Race" didn't just come from proud colored folks. They came from everyone. How are we to interpret that? As a United States Army Officer who gladly puts his life on the line every day there's no greater conflict within me. How do I feel about my country? And how does my country feel about me? Are we only to be Americans when the mood suits you?"

"Friends die in our business and for a lot of reasons. And the only protection you have against losing one is not to have any."

"[Cadet Johns has just died in a crash] Cadet Lewis Johns just taught you the most important lesson you'll learn here at Tuskegee. If you don't believe in God, you'd better find a damn good substitute."

"The four elements: earth, air, water, and fire. Of these, I call your attention to two: air and fire. Though it is your privilege to live in the air, you will die by fire."

"You, people. Don't you know how bad we treat you, people? Serving your country? This ain't your country. Your country is full of apes and gorillas, malaria, missionaries..."

"The right spirit. The right attitude. The wrong color."

"They Were Our Country's Best Defense ... And Its Greatest Glory."

"Laurence Fishburne - Capt. Hannibal "Iowa" Lee, Jr."

"Allen Payne - Cdt. Walter Peoples"

"Malcolm-Jamal Warner - Lt. Leroy Cappy"

"Courtney B. Vance - 2nd Lt. Glenn"

"Andre Braugher - Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr."

"Christopher McDonald - Maj. Sherman Joy"

"Daniel Hugh Kelly - Col. Rogers"

"John Lithgow - Sen. Conyers"

"Cuba Gooding, Jr. - Lt. Billy "A-Train" Roberts"

"Mekhi Phifer - Cdt. Lewis Johns"

"Rosemary Murphy - Eleanor Roosevelt"