African Americans in aviation honored in February
January 31, 2012, 05:22 pm
In honor of Black History Month, communities across the nation are recognizing and honoring black aviators who have played a significant role in the growth and development of the U.S. aviation industry.
For example, the community of Miami, Florida, has recently acknowledged Barrington Irving, the youngest pilot and first black pilot to fly solo around the world. Irving met another black pilot when he was 15 years old and decided that is what he wanted to do with his life. In 2007, Irving flew all the way around the world by himself. He then founded Experience Aviation, an aviation-themed program specifically designed for middle and high school students interested in planes and flying, the Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
"I tell them there's nothing special about me," Irving told the paper. "I'm just willing to go out there and get it."
African-American aviation is also being recognized during Black History Month by the United States Air Force in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. The Air Force is recalling the early 20th Century, when the U.S. defenses were not composed of such a diverse ethnic mix of people working together as they are today. In fact, early African-Americans in the aviation industry and U.S. Air Force paved the way for future generations to make their mark in the aviation history of American, the U.S. Air Force reported.
One such leader was Bessie Coleman, a young woman who struggled to live out her aviation dreams. Also known as Brave Bessie or Queen Bess, Coleman faced both racial and gender discrimination in the early 20th century as she battled to become the first African-American woman to earn a pilot's license. Coleman's talent thrilled audiences when she performed as a barnstormer, and she helped younger generations of African-American women challenge contemporary stereotypes and reach their goals.
Eugene Bullard and William Powell were also black aviation pioneers, who overcame extreme prejudice and segregation to make their mark in the aviation industry. The Air Force will also be honoring the Tuskegee airmen, who proved that African-American pilots were just as important in wartime flights as their white counterparts, and showed extreme bravery and valor in the face of adversity, the source reported.
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