"Invite Them To Dinner"

Episode notes

Podcast Summary: The Leadership Legacy of Air Force Pilot Edgar Lewis In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris shares the powerful and inspiring story of Edgar Lewis, the first African American B-47 and B-52 pilot in the United States Air Force. His journey is a testament to perseverance, emotional control, and courageous leadership in the face of racism and relentless adversity. Chris recounts how Lewis—who had never even seen an airplane before enlisting—faced challenge after challenge, many of them created by the very people meant to serve beside him. From racial discrimination in training assignments to a cross being burned at the foot of his bed, to being labeled a troublemaker for reporting the incident, Lewis repeatedly encountered obstacles intended to push him out. But every time, he refused to quit. One of the most powerful moments in the story comes when a newly assigned co-pilot told Lewis he needed reassignment—because his wife, from Selma, Alabama, didn't want him flying with a Black pilot. Instead of reacting with anger, Lewis responded calmly and professionally.