FREEZE FRAME: The New York Jets Visit BLACK ANGELS OVER TUSKEGEE

Black Angels Over Tuskegee, Layon Gray's acclaimed play is now in its fourth year at the Actors Temple Theater (339 West 47th Street). Based on true events, six men explore their collective struggle with Jim Crow, their intelligence, patriotism, dreams of an inclusive fair society, and brotherhood as they become the first African-American fighter pilots in the U.S. Army Air Forces. The New York Jets just visited the production and you can check out a photo from the special ocassion below!

Black Angels Over Tuskegee goes beyond the headlines of the popular stories of the Tuskegee Airmen and exposes the men who exhibited the courage to excel in spite of all the overwhelming odds against them. In addition to being an official selection of the 2009 National Black Theater Festival, Black Angels Over Tuskegee recently won a 2009 NAACP Award for Best Ensemble and a 2009 Artistic Director Achievement Award for Best Play. It was also presented at the 2009 National Tuskegee Airmen Convention in Las Vegas for over 30 chapters. Original Tuskegee Airmen Ted Lumpkin, President of the Los Angeles Chapter, said, "I love this play. It's real and it reminded me of my times at Tuskegee. [It's] a great show."

Black Angels Over Tuskegee recently did a special performance for the entire NY Jets team, as well as at The Federal Bank Reserve Veterans Day Event, Bermuda International Arts festival, Patriot Theatre & War Memorial (Trenton, NJ), and for the Mayor Office of Veterans Affairs for their "Salute to Service of African Americans in the United States Military."

Photo Credit: Walter McBride