The Air Force Integrates: 1945-1964 (Smithsonian History of Aviation Series)

On this episode, producer Sandra Bertin tells the story of the Freeman Field Mutiny, a protest that led to the desegregation of the United States military. Even though the men who participated in the protest were peaceful and nonviolent, they were still criticized for their methods of protest. This got us thinking, is it ever okay to criticize a protester’s methods? Or should we be focusing on something else?

What do you think? Send us a comment or a voice memo to: examiningethics@gmail.com. We’re doing another show on the ethics of protest at the end of May, so your comments might make it into that episode!

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Show Notes:

  • More information about the photograph we’ve used for this episode
  • Tuskegee Airmen
  • J. Todd Moye, professor of history at University of North Texas
  • Alan Gropman, author of Air Force Integrates, 1945-1964
  • Coleman Alexander Young, the lieutenant colonel who organized the protest
  • Wendell Freeland, one of the Freeman Field protesters
  • Roger “Bill” Terry, the Freeman Field protester who was charged with “jostling”
  • Larry Bothe
  • Freeman Army Airfield Museum
  • Derek Ford, assistant professor of education at DePauw University

Special thanks to the Veteran Voices of Pittsburgh, who allowed us to use parts of their interview with Wendell Freeland.

Thanks to Evelyn Brosius for our logo. Music used in this episode (in order of appearance):

    1. “Badlands” by Cory Gray

    From the Free Music Archive

    CC BY-NC 3.0 2. “Galoshes” by Podington Bear

    From the Free Music Archive

    CC BY-NC 3.0 3. “A Catalog of Seasons” by Blue Dot Sessions

    From the Free Music Archive

    CC BY-NC 4.0 4. “Tweedlebugs” by Podington Bear

    From the Free Music Archive

    CC BY-NC 3.0 5. “Dixie Outlandish” (Public Domain)

To contact us, email examiningethics@gmail.com.

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