“Red Tails” is a movie meant to inspire as well as educate, and the people of the Southern California school districts have used the film to teach their 3000 students.
The students attended a screening of the film across 18 screens at the AMC Del Amo Theater Feb. 1. Also at the screening were members of the original Tuskegee Airmen and members of the cast of “Red Tails.”
The event came courtesy of the Variety Children’s Charity and was organized by Wini Jackson, an advocate in service to children. “Everyone came out of the movie with an appreciation and understanding of the heroic contributions of the Airmen,” Jackson said. “I heard students say to the original Tuskegee Airmen that were in attendance, ‘Thank you for what you did for us.'”
Two of the Airmen, Ted Lumpkin and Levi Thornhill, talked about their experiences with the students. “Education is the key,” said Thornhill. “Pay attention. If you got that, you don’t have to worry. You’ll never go hungry.”
One eighth grader, Maria Hernandez, said, “I used to be a person who thought I couldn’t achieve things but I see that people achieve things no matter what. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what color you are or the race,” she said.
