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Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW023272S
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00:18 ♪[upbeat brass music]♪ 00:20 >>John Bradshaw: This is "It Is Written." 00:22 I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for joining me. 00:25 It was a very different age, yet society was still colored 00:29 by the attitudes of another era altogether. 00:33 Slavery had ended almost 80 years before. 00:36 The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863. 00:39 The Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868. 00:43 But deeply ingrained attitudes 00:46 often take some time to work out. 00:50 Change would come, but not without the hard work, 00:53 the drive, the heroism of agents of change-- 00:58 men and women who would press and work and sacrifice 01:01 and endure the hardships 01:03 that pioneers are so frequently called upon to endure. 01:08 There are Bible stories about people who fought to change 01:12 the status quo. 01:13 And they only ever succeeded 01:14 after going through the most trying circumstances. 01:18 At a time that Israel should have advanced, 01:20 its feckless king, although handpicked by God, 01:23 had all but abandoned hope. 01:26 Faced by a literal giant, Goliath of Gath, 01:29 Israel lacked the courage to either engage or reverse. 01:33 Into that milieu stepped a teenager with a faith 01:36 that was simple enough to believe that God was able. 01:39 Goliath was defeated, and a shepherd boy went on to become 01:43 Israel's most illustrious king. 01:46 Confronted by seemingly impregnable defenses 01:48 and fearsome enemies, when others had none, 01:52 Joshua and Caleb had faith that God could and would. 01:55 And ultimately, 400 years of slavery 01:58 and 40 years of wilderness wandering concluded 02:02 with Israel taking the Promised Land. 02:05 Daniel's three friends would not join the crowd 02:08 and refused to bow before a golden image. 02:10 That courageous act of faith still inspires faith today. 02:16 There were many who stood up boldly 02:17 on America's Plain of Dura. 02:20 While so many were bowing down 02:21 before the golden image of bigotry, 02:24 individuals such as Booker T. Washington, W. E. B. Du Bois, 02:28 and others made progress in the fight to throw off 02:31 the shackles of racism. 02:33 And the long night of Jim Crow and intolerance began 02:36 to slowly give way to the hope of a bright new day. 02:40 But those were early days, and prominent figures 02:43 such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and others 02:47 were still some way off. 02:49 Ever since the Civil War, Americans of all backgrounds 02:52 have been afforded the privilege of fighting for their country. 02:56 However, African Americans had not been permitted 03:00 to serve in what would become the United States Air Force. 03:05 When the U.S. joined World War II in 1941, 03:09 its official doctrine was 03:11 that African Americans were incapable of flying aircraft. 03:15 A study conducted by the military concluded that blacks 03:19 did not have the necessary intelligence, ability, 03:23 coordination, or bravery to fly. 03:28 I spoke with Frank Toland; he's the lead park ranger 03:31 at the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site. 03:35 >>Frank Toland: There had been an effort for many years 03:37 by, um, black aviation groups in Chicago and in Los Angeles 03:44 to get, uh, more opportunities for African American pilots, 03:48 uh, especially within the military. 03:52 The prevailing views of the time were that African Americans 03:55 did not have the, the ability to do this job. 03:59 But 1940 was an election year. 04:03 President Roosevelt was running for a third time. 04:06 He needed African American votes from the African Americans 04:10 who had newly moved to the North during the Great Migration. 04:14 So, he came out, and he promised that if he got reelected, 04:18 he would start training for African American pilots 04:21 within the military and open up other opportunities 04:25 within the military for African Americans as well. 04:27 He did get reelected, and 1941, President Roosevelt announced 04:32 the start of the Tuskegee Airmen program, 04:35 and that it was going to be located here in Tuskegee. 04:37 >>John: How did the Tuskegee Airmen, as you see it, 04:42 impact not only the military but also society? 04:48 >>Frank: For one thing, I think because of the success 04:51 of the Tuskegee Airmen, uh, in 1948, President Truman signed 04:57 an executive order to start the desegregation of the military. 05:01 Also, many of the, not just Tuskegee Airmen, 05:04 but World War II, uh, veterans overall, 05:08 when they came back from what they had experienced, 05:10 after World War II came back determined to fight 05:13 for civil rights here at home. 05:15 During this whole period during the '40s, 05:18 there was something known as the double-V campaign. 05:21 Yes, we'll fight for the country, but at the same time, 05:24 in addition to fighting against fascism overseas, 05:28 we're going to be fighting against racism 05:30 and discrimination here at home. 05:32 And from that did grow the eventual civil rights movement. 05:37 Despite all that they suffered and all that they went through, 05:42 they were still willing to fight for this country 05:45 and to try to make things better for the generations to follow. 05:48 Um, and you can see that in various ways, 05:53 including some of what, what some of the Tuskegee Airmen 05:57 were able to accomplish after the war. 05:59 Some of them became involved in the civil rights movement. 06:03 Uh, some of them stayed in the military 06:05 and rose to a high rank. 06:07 Uh, some of them went into, uh, private industry 06:11 or into education. 06:13 Um, but no matter what they went into, 06:16 uh, they still had the discipline that they learned 06:20 as Tuskegee Airmen that was able to cause them to be successful 06:25 in later life. 06:27 >>John: The Tuskegee Airmen took their rigorous 06:29 flight training here at Moton Field. 06:33 When First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited this area 06:36 in March of 1941, she went to Kennedy Field 06:40 some miles south of here. 06:42 She asked to be taken to where the Tuskegee Airmen 06:44 were staying, and there she met a man named Charles Anderson. 06:49 Now, Anderson before World War II 06:51 had bought himself a plane and taught himself 06:54 how to take off and land. 06:56 He became the chief flight instructor here at Tuskegee. 07:00 When Mrs. Roosevelt remarked that she had always heard 07:03 that a black man couldn't fly a plane, 07:07 Anderson offered to take her up for a ride. 07:09 Much to everybody's surprise, she accepted. 07:13 And when they got back down on the ground, 07:15 she turned to Anderson and she said, "Well, you sure can fly." 07:19 The story of the first lady and the black pilot 07:23 gave the Tuskegee program some much needed go-forward. 07:26 In fact, Mrs. Roosevelt used her influence to raise the money 07:30 needed to develop Moton Field. 07:34 That same month, the war department created 07:37 the 99th Pursuit Squadron, 07:39 the first flying unit made up of black pilots. 07:43 The program was underway by June of 1941, 07:46 and by the time the United States entered World War II, 07:49 hundreds were in training. 07:51 But if those would-be pilots thought that they would be 07:53 afforded the respect due to officers in the military, 07:57 they were mistaken. 07:59 They weren't permitted to access the officers' club--whites only. 08:05 By the spring of 1942, despite all the obstacles, 08:08 the first Tuskegee Airmen completed training, becoming 08:12 the nation's first African American military pilots. 08:16 Before the war's end, almost 1,000 African American men 08:20 were trained as pilots. 08:22 Of the pilots who graduated from Tuskegee during the war, 08:25 almost 500 served overseas, where they flew 08:28 more than 15,000 sorties [plane engines roaring] 08:31 and destroyed more than 200 enemy aircraft. 08:35 Sixty-six gave their lives, 08:38 with another 32 being shot down and spending time 08:41 in prisoner-of-war camps. 08:43 I had the good fortune of sitting down recently 08:46 with one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen. 08:50 After graduating on September 8, 1945, 08:54 Jerry Hodges was assigned to the 617th Bomb Squadron 08:58 of the 477th Bomber Group. 09:01 You'll meet Mr. Hodges in just a moment. 09:04 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 09:13 >>John: Jesus said He came into the world 09:15 to give us a more abundant life. 09:17 And you can have that by making simple changes 09:19 that bring profound results. 09:21 And with that in mind, I'd like to offer you a special book. 09:23 It's called "Confidence in Chaos." 09:26 If you want to get your heart 09:27 right with God, this is the book 09:28 that's going to set you on the path to that place. 09:30 In order to get this book, 09:31 call right now. 09:32 The number is 1-800-253-3000 09:36 and simply ask for "Confidence in Chaos." 09:39 Or visit us online at iiwoffer.com. 09:43 >>John Bradshaw: Thanks for joining me on "It Is Written." 09:45 The Tuskegee Airmen were stationed in North Africa 09:48 and Italy during their time in combat. 09:51 They were frequently used as escorts for bombers 09:54 on bombing missions. 09:56 In fact, compared to other squadrons 09:58 assigned to escort duty, 10:00 the Tuskegee Airmen had one of the lowest loss records. 10:04 Because of their excellence, 10:06 the Red Tails were frequently requested 10:09 when escorts were needed. 10:11 Jerry Hodges is a Tuskegee airman. 10:14 I sat down with him recently, 10:16 and he shared some of his experience with me. 10:18 Tell me how you came to get involved in, in flying 10:22 at a time where...African Americans weren't flying? 10:26 >>Jerry Hodges: Okay, I was a freshman in college 10:29 at that time. And I knew I was going to be drafted. 10:36 At this college, every young man 10:41 that was drafted went to the navy. 10:45 And in the navy, 10:48 my only job available was a cook, 10:53 a steward, or something like that, at that time. 10:58 My mother called me one day, and she said, "You know, 11:02 "they've opened a flying training program for us, 11:07 "for our boys down at Tuskegee. 11:11 Why, why don't you consider that?" 11:15 And I thought about it and I said, 11:18 "You know, that's a good idea." 11:20 The following week I made application for cadet training 11:25 from Hampton University. 11:27 I had to take a physical examination, mental test. 11:31 I really didn't expect I'd pass all of them, but I did. 11:36 And, and from then on, I was looking forward to the day 11:39 that I was going to take off all by myself. 11:46 The rate at which you had to learn 11:50 was much more than you would expect 11:55 in the civilian life. 11:56 I'd never been close to an airplane before I got there. 12:01 I remember the first time I went up with my, uh, instructor 12:06 in primary, and I looked out of the plane, 12:09 and I said, "It'll never happen. 12:14 I'll never be able to determine what all this is and fly." 12:22 Uh, that was a little premature 12:26 because five hours of flight later, we landed, 12:30 he climbed out, and I said, "Uh-oh, what's he going to do?" 12:35 And he waved for me to go around. 12:39 And I took off, flew around, landed. 12:43 He waved me again. I did it a second time. 12:46 Then he came, got in the plane. 12:48 The next day they gave me an airplane to take off in. 12:53 And, man, did I have fun! 12:56 >>John: At the time, were you aware 13:01 that this was history in the making? 13:04 >>Jerry: At the time I had little idea, 13:06 no idea at all that we were making history. 13:11 >>John: When did it dawn on you 13:14 that you were part of history being made? 13:16 >>Jerry: [chuckling] You know, I was back in civilian life 13:20 before it really occurred to me: Look at this, look what we did. 13:24 >>John: How'd that make you feel? 13:26 >>Jerry: Yeah, well, I tell you, 13:27 I felt really good and excited about it 13:31 because when I was in service, 13:35 I had met a large majority 13:39 of these veterans that had been over into Italy, 13:43 into Europe and flying, 13:46 and these guys that really made history 13:50 really showed that we could fly and what we could do flying. 13:56 Other flight squadrons, they were flying escorts. 14:00 They would take them to the target; 14:02 before they get there, they say, 14:03 "Okay, here you are. You're on your own." 14:05 And they'd turn around and go back home. 14:08 Our group took them to the target, stayed with them, 14:11 and took them back. 14:13 That's why they, they, uh, developed that reputation. 14:20 >>John: You know, it's pretty special that you made history. 14:22 But, but... 14:28 it's unfortunate that it had to be history that was being made. 14:34 >>Jerry: Indeed. 14:35 >>John: At that time, how did you relate 14:39 to those circumstances which, until now, had been set in place 14:45 to keep you back? 14:47 >>Jerry: I was very aware of it, and I hated those circumstances. 14:55 I always felt imposed on 15:01 when I would get or go into situations 15:04 in which this was clamped down on me. 15:09 But I also knew 15:13 there were a lot of good people 15:17 urging and working toward the elimination of that. 15:22 It was--we were fighting two wars: 15:26 overseas and at home. 15:30 Double victory we were working for. 15:34 Overseas, I could see them, you know, 15:39 winning, coming out ahead. 15:43 But at home, it was really difficult to see 15:46 if we gonna make any progress. 15:49 Over the years, I have seen, yes, we have made progress. 15:55 And we still have a very long way to go. 16:02 You know, so, we must keep on. 16:04 We can't relax; we've gotta keep on doing it. 16:07 >>John: After the Tuskegee Airmen, 16:09 the nation went on to end Jim Crow and segregation 16:12 and legalized discrimination. 16:15 But imagine if it hadn't. 16:16 Imagine if after Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Du Bois 16:20 and countless other men and women had toiled for change, 16:25 that the nation simply forgot all about it 16:27 and went back to the old practices of former years? 16:31 Such a thing has happened before. 16:33 A man once came to this earth 16:35 who rose up and stood for change and achieved great things, 16:39 but then He watched as those He had given so much for 16:44 simply reverted to type. 16:47 A world given great opportunity to press forward didn't. 16:52 And here we are today. 16:54 I'll tell you more about that story in just a moment. 16:58 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 17:06 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 17:08 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 17:12 To support this international life-changing ministry, 17:15 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 17:19 You can send your tax-deductible gift 17:21 to the address on your screen, 17:22 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 17:26 Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. 17:29 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 17:33 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 17:37 >>John: He was raised in poverty, born into a life 17:39 that was supposed to guarantee he didn't have a future. 17:43 But when a young boy from Alabama moved with his family 17:45 to Cleveland, Ohio, everything changed as Jesse Owens ran 17:50 and jumped into the pages of history. 17:53 Join me for "Running the Race," 17:55 the story of a young man who overcame impossible odds, 17:58 winning four Olympic gold medals and delivering a knockout blow 18:02 to Adolf Hitler's master race theories. 18:05 The story of Jesse Owens' victories against all odds 18:08 speak to the experience of salvation. 18:10 All have sinned, and yet all may have everlasting life 18:13 through faith in Jesus. 18:15 Even when others say you don't deserve eternity, 18:17 Jesus steps in to offer you everlasting life. 18:21 Don't miss "Running the Race," 18:24 the inspiring story of improbable victories 18:26 on the track, in life, and where it matters most. 18:30 "Running the Race," 18:32 brought to you by It Is Written TV. 18:37 >>John Bradshaw: When World War II began, 18:39 there were only about 125 licensed black pilots 18:43 in the entire United States and none in the military. 18:47 Yet just a couple of generations after the abolition of slavery, 18:50 black Americans were flying as pilots 18:53 of the United States Army Air Forces, 18:55 as the air force was known back then. 18:57 Those pioneering aviators were the Tuskegee Airmen, 19:00 a name given to the pilots and their support staff. 19:04 And they earned a reputation for excellence. 19:06 It's a fascinating story, 19:08 one that you can compare many Bible stories to: 19:12 men fighting against great odds and overcoming, 19:15 men fighting against the establishment, 19:17 against the status quo, men who were undeniably 19:20 on the side of right asking for an opportunity to do 19:24 what was clearly and obviously just. 19:27 These were men who volunteered 19:29 to fight against tyranny overseas while, simultaneously, 19:33 fighting tyranny of another kind at home. 19:37 After World War II, Jerry Hodges went on to establish 19:40 a successful accounting business in California. 19:43 In 2019, another Tuskegee airman, Charles McGee, 19:47 flew a private jet from Maryland to Dover Air Force Base. 19:52 You're doing the math, aren't you? 19:54 He did that on his 100th birthday. 19:58 Benjamin O. Davis Jr. was the son 20:00 of the army's first black general. 20:03 Initially, he was denied admission to the army air corps 20:06 based on race but went on to command 20:09 both of the Tuskegee units that saw combat. 20:13 He became the first black brigadier general 20:16 in the United States Air Force. 20:18 Daniel James Jr. became the first black four-star general 20:22 in the air force. 20:23 He flew 101 combat missions during the Korean War 20:28 and another 78 combat missions during Vietnam. 20:32 Roscoe C. Brown Jr. flew 68 combat missions 20:36 during World War II. 20:38 When he shot down a Messerschmitt near Berlin, 20:41 he became only the 15th U.S. pilot to shoot down a jet. 20:46 He went on to earn a doctorate from New York University 20:48 and enjoyed a very successful career as an educator 20:51 and university administrator. 20:54 These outstanding Americans didn't achieve 20:56 because of the color of their skin, 20:58 nor did they achieve in spite of the color of their skin. 21:02 They were high fliers, and doing what they did 21:05 would pave the way for others to fly high. 21:09 [soft reflective music] 21:11 But imagine if, after all the hard work done and the insults 21:15 and discrimination, imagine if society went back to that. 21:20 Of course, you just cannot go back to a broken system. 21:24 You don't turn back the clock on matters of justice. 21:27 So, think with me about another pioneer who came on to the scene 21:31 when injustice was rampant, 21:34 when certain men and women had lost their freedoms. 21:38 This Man made such great advancements, 21:40 only to see the progress that He had made basically ignored. 21:45 This is Isaiah 61:1. 21:47 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because the Lord 21:49 "hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; 21:53 "He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, 21:55 "to proclaim liberty to the captives, 21:57 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." 22:01 Jesus quoted this passage and then said 22:03 to those who were there that day, 22:05 "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." 22:09 In other words, "I've come to liberate the oppressed, 22:13 "to preach deliverance to the captives, and to heal the blind. 22:17 I've come to save the world from the tyranny of sin," 22:20 Jesus was saying. 22:22 That was a huge gain for the world. 22:25 Meaningless tradition, along with ignorance and superstition 22:28 and hopelessness, were swept aside 22:31 when Jesus came into the world. 22:33 So how much sense does it make to ignore that Jesus lived? 22:38 And to reject the gains made by His life and death? 22:41 It isn't a desire for liberty that craves a Jesus-less world 22:46 but a strange attraction to the exact opposite. 22:51 John wrote that Jesus "came unto His own, 22:54 and His own received Him not." 22:57 The world had never been deeper in sin. 23:00 Jesus came to this world to free us from that. 23:03 He came to this world that we might not only have life 23:06 but, in His words, "have it more abundantly." 23:09 But it's as though that people of His day said, 23:11 "Actually, we'd rather go back to Egypt." 23:14 To quote them, they said, "We have no king but Caesar!" 23:18 He was in their midst, 23:19 the Messiah for whom they'd been waiting thousands of years, 23:23 the promised One who opened the eyes of the blind 23:25 and healed lepers and drove away disease 23:28 and raised the dead again and again. 23:30 And they said, "No, no, let's not advance. 23:34 Let's go backwards." Drastically. 23:38 Jesus' life on earth changed the world. 23:41 And His life and death can change your world. 23:44 You don't have to live your past life anymore. 23:47 You can live a life of hope and freedom, of dignity and respect. 23:52 If David hadn't stepped forward to kill Goliath, 23:55 who knows what misery Israel would have endured. 23:58 But after his incredible victory, the nation didn't say, 24:02 "Actually, we prefer to be under Philistine rule." 24:06 What if the Red Sea had parted and Israel said, 24:09 "We're not crossing over"? 24:10 Caleb, whose name means "wholehearted," 24:13 and Joshua, which means "Yahweh saves," 24:16 encouraged Israel to press forward into the Promised Land. 24:21 The faithless ones gave what the Bible calls "an evil report." 24:26 They said, "We cannot," 24:28 which, of course, means, "We believe God cannot." 24:32 And that backward thinking, in the face of God's grace 24:36 and blessing, saw the nation spend 40 years in the wilderness 24:41 when they could have made it to the Promised Land 24:44 in just 11 days. 24:48 God wants every person alive to fly high spiritually. 24:53 But every time God says, "I'll set you free," and you choose 24:56 to stay in sin, you're clinging to the darkness of the past. 25:01 When you choose to let an addiction govern you, 25:03 you're saying you want to forget everything 25:06 the death of Jesus represents. 25:08 He died to give you power, victory. 25:11 It's freely offered to you. 25:14 You'd accept that, wouldn't you? 25:15 There's not one good reason why you shouldn't. 25:18 It might be discouragement or pride or lust or anger 25:20 or dishonesty, and Jesus says, "I have a way forward for you. 25:25 You've been freed from that." 25:26 ♪[soft reflective music]♪ 25:27 There stands a cross at Calvary declaring that Jesus calls you 25:31 from the past into a bright future of hope and light. 25:37 How is it with you today? 25:39 We've looked today at a group of individuals 25:40 who manifestly changed society. 25:43 Society couldn't go back, and neither can you 25:47 after what Jesus has done for you. 25:49 Jesus came into the world and changed the world, 25:53 opening up to you the reality of eternal life. 25:58 You can't go back, can you? 26:00 He said to a group of fishermen one day, "Follow me." 26:03 And today, He says the same to you. 26:06 Will you follow Jesus, 26:08 the One who made great gains for you, 26:10 who has freed you from the condemnation and dysfunction 26:13 and guilt of your past? 26:15 Accept what He's done for you and start living, right now, 26:19 the more abundant life that He offers. 26:23 ♪[music ends]♪♪ 26:25 >>John: Jesus said He came into the world to give us 26:27 a more abundant life. 26:29 And you can have that by making simple changes 26:31 that bring profound results. 26:33 And with that in mind, I'd like to offer you a special book. 26:35 It's called "Confidence in Chaos." 26:37 If you want to get your heart right with God, 26:39 this is the book that's going to set you 26:40 on the path to that place. 26:42 In order to get this book, call right now. 26:44 The number is 1-800-253-3000 26:48 and simply ask for "Confidence in Chaos." 26:50 Or visit us online at iiwoffer.com. 26:55 >>John: Let's pray together now. 26:57 Our Father in heaven, we are grateful for the example 26:59 of those who have gone before us, examples of courage 27:03 and integrity under great pressure and duress. 27:07 We're thankful for the example of Jesus, 27:09 who made such great gains for this world. 27:13 Friend, right now, as God is calling to your heart, 27:17 I'm wondering if you want to ignore the gains Jesus made 27:20 and go back to some old life, 27:22 or step forward into what God has provided for you 27:25 and assume your rightful role as a son or daughter of God. 27:29 Would you do that? 27:30 And say yes to the God of heaven and yes to the new life 27:34 Jesus through His heroism and sacrifice and bravery secured. 27:38 We thank You, Lord, for the new life, for a new way. 27:40 We turn our back on the old life through faith in Jesus 27:43 and ask that He would live His life in us. 27:47 In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. 27:50 Thank you so much for joining me. 27:51 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 27:53 Until then, remember: 27:54 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 27:58 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 28:03 ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪ 28:26 ♪[music ends]♪♪ |
Revised 2024-05-22