Living the Dream tells the story of an African-American boy who had dreams of serving in the United States military, wearing the uniform, and demonstrating that he could be more than what his childhood circumstances and others predicted he would be. Not only did Newton break the bonds of segregation and disenfranchisement, but he also went on to accomplish much more than he could ever have imagined during his early life. Strong parents and education opened doors for him to dream and dream big . He made many of his dreams a reality along the way. He became a fighter pilot in the US Air Force and was the first African-American pilot to fly with the US Air Force Demonstration Team, "The Thunderbirds." Newton retired from the Air Force in 2000 as a four-star General.