In honor of Black History Month, we are proud to share the story of Samuel Wesley Henderson ’40 — a Tuskegee Airman whose life exemplified courage, brilliance, and perseverance in the face of profound injustice.

Born on February 1, 1921, Samuel Henderson was a standout student at Stuyvesant High School. He served as Class President, sang in the Glee Club, and was a star basketball player. Five historically Black colleges offered him basketball scholarships, but Samuel made a surprising choice. Instead of attending college immediately, he enrolled in Harlem Evening High School to study typing and stenography, determined to help support his parents and ten siblings. Though the decision stunned his family, it would later prove pivotal.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Samuel joined the U.S. military. His typing and stenography skills led to an assignment at the headquarters of the 99th Pursuit Squadron, where his sharp intellect and discipline ultimately earned him selection as one of the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in U.S. history, serving with distinction during World War II as part of the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Despite enduring racial discrimination both inside and outside the military, they flew more than 1,500 bomber escort missions over Europe and North Africa. Known as the “Red Tails” for the crimson markings on their aircraft, they became legendary for their unwavering commitment to protect bombers from takeoff to return. Their escort record was so exceptional that bomber crews often refused to fly without them.

The success of the Tuskegee Airmen not only helped defeat Nazi Germany, but also shattered racist assumptions about Black service members. Their achievements were instrumental in President Harry S. Truman’s 1948 decision to integrate the U.S. Armed Forces.

In 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, presented by President George W. Bush. Two years later, Samuel attended President Barack Obama’s first inauguration alongside more than 200 surviving Airmen. President Obama credited their service with helping make his presidency possible.

Samuel and eight fellow Tuskegee Airmen later shared their experiences with filmmaker George Lucas, inspiring the 2012 film Red Tails. One review described the film as “more than a movie — a powerful tribute to heroes whose bravery changed the course of history.”

While Samuel Henderson passed before many of us had the chance to meet him personally, his story was preserved through an interview conducted by Hal Diamond ’78, a member of the SHSAA team, with Samuel’s nephew, James B. White ’58. James, an 85-year-old retired professor of linguistics and foreign languages who speaks eight languages, shared how his uncle’s example inspired him to follow in Samuel’s footsteps to Stuyvesant and dedicate his life to scholarship and education.

Samuel Wesley Henderson passed away on January 31, 2019, just one day before his 98th birthday. His legacy — as a Stuyvesant leader, a Tuskegee Airman, and a quiet trailblazer — continues to inspire generations.