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The legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen has found its way to Tampa Bay. On May 28, Tuskegee Airmen Inc. approved the charter of the Tampa Bay Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen.
The establishment of the chapter makes Tampa the fourth Tuskegee Airmen chapter in Florida and the largest in the national organization with 110 founding members. Other Florida chapters are in South Florida — covering Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties — Miami, and Orlando.
An official charter ceremony commemorating the chapter took place on Oct. 13 at the Egypt Shrine Event Center in Tampa. Among the attendees were active and retired military as well as community officials. Tampa City Councilmen Guido Maniscalco and Luis Viera and Councilwoman Naya Young also attended.
The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American aviators to serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Their story has been immortalized in documentaries, television series and movies — most notably, the 2012 movie “Red Tails.”
City of Tampa Mayor Jane Castor made the opening remarks.
“Not just in aviation, but anything was possible if you looked at the Tuskegee Airmen and what they did, the sacrifices they made, the perseverance they had, the skills, the leadership, the tenacity,” Castor said. “Those are skills that we want to see in our young people.”
Congresswoman Kathy Castor said the Tuskegee Airmen answered the call for a global democracy.
“Their service became a symbol of perseverance and possibility, debunking racist myths proving skill, discipline and patriotism transcend color.”
The chapter has a broad focus, founding chapter member and Ret. Col. Tonja Brickhouse noted in her comments, which includes, “Preserving history, opening aviation and aerospace pathways, investing in young people, serving veterans and connecting the organization that can make this work possible.”
A notable guest of the evening was a surviving Distinguished Original Tuskegee airman. Flight Officer Daniel Keel, who is 104, traveled from Leesburg, Fla., with his daughters to participate in the charter ceremony. Keel was honored with a plaque from the chapter and participated in the officer commitment part of the ceremony.
“Make no doubt about it, I would not be standing here right now as retired major general in the United States army without Flight Officer Daniel Keel standing up to the segregated era that he had to deal with back in Tuskegee, Alabama,” said retired Major Gen. Abraham Turner, the guest speaker of the event. Turner is a former Fort Jackson commander in South Carolina.
Origins of the Tampa Chapter
The creation of the chapter is the brainchild of Wanda Mays, the charter and chapter president. She says the thought of establishing a Tampa chapter came about while she was trying to get her drone license.
Mays is a claims adjuster for the state of Florida who became active with the Tuskegee chapter in Broward county, where she started taking drone classes. Over time, Mays started receiving questions about why there was not a Tuskegee Airmen chapter in Tampa.
“Of course, me being who I am, I raised my hand, quicker than my mind thought, and I said, ‘I will help us get chartered, get a chapter,’” said Mays, recalling the conversation.
Meanwhile, Florida’s political climate became a target of attack for initiatives involving minorities.
Earlier this year, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation into law that prohibits local governments from funding any programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). And in 2013, the governor rejected an advanced placement course that would have covered African American studies, claiming the course “significantly lacks educational value.”
Even so, Mays says it was important for the Tuskegee Airmen to have a presence in Tampa so current and future generations are aware of their contributions.
“Another reason we really wanted to be here was to make sure that the history that’s connected to Tuskegee is preserved,” says Mays. “And with the current climate that we’re in, with so many things taken away, people are not sure where to go or information they should receive … we are going to make sure that we make those connections back to the community.”
Education and Community Outreach
Mays says the chapter exists to support anyone who is interested in aviation, whether that’s information or interest in becoming a pilot or work in aviation mechanics. Initiatives include: Red Tails Ambassadors Program, in which students can acquire aviation skills through mentorship, STEM learning, and career development.
The chapter has also partnered with Hillsborough County Public Schools to offer students options in STEM careers.
“Partnerships like this are incredibly important because our students need more than what happens inside of a classroom,” said Dr. Catherine White of Hillsborough County Schools. “They need opportunities to see themselves in careers, to connect with you all [the audience] as mentors and to understand what is possible for their future.”
Mays has ambitious goals for the new chapter.
“One of our goals this year is to create at least 27 drone pilots at the age of 16,” says Mays. “We want to make sure that we help 50 veterans get into homes, make sure that they have their medicals together and any other information to help them have a sustainable life.”
Mays added, “The Tuskegee Airmen made history. Now, another generation has the responsibility to carry the legacy forward.”
To learn more about the Tampa Bay Tuskegee Chapter go to https://www.tampabaychaptertai.org/
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