Black History luncheon draws large crowd

  • Published
  • By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman William Gaskill
  • Defense Media Activity-Riverside
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  Several hundred people attended the 2012 Black History lunch Feb. 28, hosted by Defense Media Activity's Black History Committee. Featured speakers from the local community included Buford A. Johnson, a retired Air Force crew chief and a member of the Buford A. Johnson (CA) Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Johnson spoke about his experiences in "good old America" when he was part of the original Tuskegee flight group, stationed in places as close as Florida and as far away as Italy during World War II. He related his war stories and stayed behind to answer individual questions and take photos.

The new movie "Red Tails" is an accurate representation of the Tuskegee group's service, according to Johnson. "I didn't know the men (portrayed in the movie), but the story was pretty much what we went through," he explained.

"We weren't as good as the other guys, we were better," he said. "If you gave us the good planes, we could win."

Yolanda Williams, founder and CEO of Inland Empire Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association, was invited to speak about the Buffalo Soldiers, a group of former slaves and black Americans who volunteered to fight in the Civil War for the Union Army.
 
Williams told of the adversity these soldiers faced and of a failed Army experiment to cut costs by taking away the Buffalo Soldiers horses and replacing them with used bicycles.
"The Buffalo Soldiers received little attention, but with technology, we are trying to make people more aware and educate them of the (Buffalo Soldier's) history," she said.

Williams explained that they are in the process of designing a monument at the Medal of Honor Memorial at the Riverside National Cemetery. The site was chosen because there were 18 Medals of Honor given to the various Buffalo Soldiers' divisions.

Other local speakers were Linda Wright, president of the Moreno Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, Felicia Early, graduate of Tuskegee University, LaRita Shelby, former American Forces Radio broadcaster and president of Shall Be Music and Media, and Denna Michaux, CEO of Pit Bull Energy Products.

Guests were treated to a traditional Southern menu including pulled pork, fried catfish, roasted chicken, black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, yams, collard greens, corn bread, sweet tea and desserts. The event concluded with a tour of the broadcasting facility.