Reference no: EM133380719

Case Study: To support this week's material on Blacks and African Americans, I would like you to watch the movie 'The Tuskegee Airmen.' It stars Lawrence Fishburn, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Malcolm Jamal Warner, and tells the true story of the United States' government's effort to integrate Black pilots as aviators during World War II. The movie was originally produced in 1995 but is still topical today. The film augments the lecture material by highlighting this historical event that was one of the predecessors to the Civil Rights movement.

Questions:

Q1: Throughout the film, what did you think of the treatment the cadets/pilots received from the drill sergeants, both White and Black? In what ways was it negative? In what ways was it positive?

Q2: What are the implications of the Black fighter pilots having had their own military base in Italy? Was it a positive thing? A negative thing? Why do you think so?

Q3: At what point(s) in the movie, do you think the Tuskegee Airmen start being judged based upon their merits instead of upon the stereotypes about them? Provide an example.

Q4: Considering the 'phraseology' of bigotry and hatred at the time - 'ni---r,' 'colored,' 'Negro,' 'boy', 'you people,' etc.,' - what emotional impact do words like this have today? Do they still conjure up insensitivity and hatred? Or, do we live in an age of increased sensitivity and understanding where words and phrases such as these have lost their emotional impact? Why?

Q5: What is one takeaway, lesson learned of 'Aha' moment you have learned from watching the film? How will it be of benefit to you moving forward?

Q6: How are we doing as a society now regarding the issues presented in the film regarding discrimination, stereotyping, bias, identity characteristics, etc? Provide a specific business example to support your assertion that we are doing better, worse, or the same.