More unsung heroes

Watching (for the first time, I'm ashamed to admit) The Tuskegee Airmen (an excellent film starring just about every black actor working today except Denzel, including Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Andre Braugher, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Mekhi Phifer) tonight, I'm reminded of what a fucking pitiful waste racism has been in this country.
Both for the obvious loss of the incredible contribution that people of color (a phrase I don't especially like; I, too, am a color, especially when I've been out in the sun) could have made if given the chance, as well as the incredible waste of energy that white people (another phrase I don't especially like; I am not very white, even when I've been out of the sun, but sort of a low-grade pink) have allowed themselves in being racist.

I've been on three continents and more than forty of the United States and, trust me, assholes come in all colors...
As do geniuses, and heroes, and hard-working people. Trying to slice them any other way than by ability and attitude is not only ridiculous, it's useless.

(If you're queer for WW2 aircraft, especially the Mustang, like I am, that's another good reason, besides the story and the great acting, to watch this film.)