History isn’t just something we remember—it’s something we learn from.
The U.S. Air Force has suspended a course featuring a documentary about the Tuskegee Airmen—the first Black military aviators in U.S. history. These pilots served in segregated units during World War II and overcame immense barriers to prove their skill and bravery, ultimately paving the way for the desegregation of the armed forces.
This decision doesn’t just impact DEI policies—it impacts how we tell the stories of those who have shaped our history. It’s about ensuring that the sacrifices and contributions of all Americans, including the Tuskegee Airmen and the Women Airforce Service Pilots, are recognized and remembered.
Inclusion isn’t about politics—it’s about preserving the full picture of who we are as a society. Removing these narratives from training materials risks erasing the hard-won lessons of the past, lessons that have made our institutions, like the military, stronger and more united.
Imagine a new recruit entering basic training without learning about the Tuskegee Airmen’s courage or the trailblazing service of women pilots. These stories aren’t just inspiring—they’re instructive. They teach us about resilience, leadership, and the importance of breaking barriers.
History is one of our most powerful tools for understanding the present and shaping the future. When we stop telling the stories of those who’ve been excluded, we risk repeating the same mistakes and losing the progress we’ve made toward fairness and equality.
I encourage all of us to reflect on the importance of these stories—not just for the people they represent but for what they teach us about ourselves and our shared humanity. Inclusion matters because our history matters.
Dr. Liz Wilson is a globally recognized and awarded expert in diversity, equity, and inclusion and the author of The Strategic Inclusion Playbook: Your Comprehensive Guide to Creating an Inclusive Organization. She has been a trusted advisor to organizations worldwide, offering evidence-based strategies to address inclusion challenges while navigating complex regulatory environments.
Dr. Wilson is also the founder of Include Inc., a consultancy specializing in innovative approaches to achieving inclusive outcomes. Her academic research and published 8-Inclusion Needs of All People framework has been adopted across the world, navigating legal, cultural, and social norms to address the intersectional needs of all people in efforts to eliminate discrimination. Wilson, L. A. (2023).
Dr. Liz also shares her research and strategic inclusion capability through the Include Institute.
The 8-Inclusion Needs of All People: A Proposed Framework to Address Intersectionality in Efforts to Prevent Discrimination; International Journal of Social Science Research and Review, 6(2), 296-314.
