Phoenix Event

A Beautiful Experience!

I attended an event in Phoenix, AZ the week of August 2-5, 2006 and was blown away! This was the most insightful, pride elevating, motivational, hope inspiring experience I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of...and I've been talking about this event since my return to Los Angeles.

No, it was not a conference revealing a cure for cancer. It wasn't time travel achieved. It was just people. Extraordinary people who have paved and continue to pave the way for those who aspire to be
great. My people. Black people.


I have never, in my entire life, seen this many Black people in one place, at one time where rap music wasn't being blasted at obscene levels, where some sort of alcoholic beverage wasn't being pushed on me, where the women weren't searching for a man with an expensive SUV with chrome rims and a bling-bling "grill", (that means teeth), to match and the men weren't degrading the women in word or action, or where a fight or at least an argument ensued. This event boasted no one who approached me with a "what up dawg" or a "yo playa-playa". These were people who are doing what it takes not only to elevate themselves to the next level, but are making sure that others may reap the benefits of their hard work, blood, sweat and tears. Latino, Asian and White were represented as well, but the true focus was on Black men and women.

Black Airline Pilots, Black Fighter Pilots, Black Women Pilots, Black Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Colonels, Generals. Enlisted men and women with stripes...many stripes. Forgive me if I'm leaving anyone out, there were just too many of you to keep up with, so I did my best.

The event showcased these organizations:

The Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
BPA - Black Pilots of America
NAI, Inc.- Black Wings in Aviation
The Bessie Coleman Foundation, Inc.
International Black Aerospace Council
USBAA - US Army Black Aviation Association, Inc.
OBAP - The Organizaion of Black Airline Pilots, Inc.
National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees

I urge each and every one who reads this post to do a bit of homework on the organizations listed above. I am so impressed and inspired that I will do what I can to be a part of this ongoing, growing network of educating our young people so that they might know what it took for them to be able to drive down the street blasting that rap music with no regard or respect for those around them.

This was an eye opening experience and others need to know the truth about the Tuskegee Airmen. People need to know that all that mess the record companies are putting out is not what life is all about. I can't write what I really want to say to you all. I don't have the time nor the words to express my gratitude toward the the Tuskegee Airmen as well as those who are serving our country with pride and dignity. I am a veteran of the USAirforce, as is my brother Bryon. My father Dave Goodwin was also an Army Veteran who served in Korea. These men and women make me proud to have served my short time, and I pray for them all as they continue to preserve the freedom we enjoy daily.


In a nutshell,"THESE BLACK FOLK ARE DOIN' IT!".

Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Col. Lee Archer aka "Flying Ace" of the USAF (Retired), poses with Dr. MJ Goodwin-Clinkscale from the GBT Academy of Performing Arts out of Omaha, NE.




My brother Bryon, Robin Petgrave (Founder of Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton, CA), Dr. Dura Hale (Founder and Principal of The Milwaukee Academy of Aviation, Science and Technology), and Me.





Mae C. Jemison, the first African-American woman in space.




Tuskegee Airman, Dr. Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. (The first 15th Air Force fighter pilot to shoot down a Me 262 Fighter. He also downed a German Fw 190 fighter), flanked by Dr. MJ Goodwin-Clinkscale and her assitant Rita Dantzler. Brown was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters.

Post a Comment

---

-Photo Gallery-