Black Wings: Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History - Hardcover

Hardesty, Von

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0061261386 ISBN 13: 9780061261381

Publisher: Smithsonian Books, 2008

Synopsis

Colin Powell once observed that "a dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work." This sentiment is mirrored dramatically in the story of African Americans in aerospace history. The invention of the airplane in the first decade of the twentieth century sparked a revolution in modern technology. Aviation in the popular mind became associated with adventure and heroism. For African Americans, however, this new realm of human flight remained off-limits, a consequence of racial discrimination. Many African Americans displayed a keen interest in the new air age, but found themselves routinely barred from gaining training as pilots or mechanics. Beginning in the 1920s, a small and widely scattered group of black air enthusiasts challenged this prevailing pattern of racial discrimination. With no small amount of effort--and against formidable odds--they gained their pilot licenses and acquired the technical skills to become aircraft mechanics.Over the course of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, African Americans have expanded their participation in both military and civilian aviation and space flight, from the early pioneers and barnstormers through the Tuskegee airmen to Shuttle astronauts. Featuring approximately two hundred historic and contemporary photographs and a lively narrative that spans eight decades of U.S. history, Black Wings offers a compelling overview of this extraordinary and inspiring saga.

About this title

Product Description:

HardCover. Pub Date: 2008 Pages: 192 in Publisher: Smithsonian Colin Powell once observed that a dream does not become reality through magic; This sentiment is On mirrored dramatically it takes sweat. Determination and hard work in the story of African Americans in aerospace history. The invention of the airplane in the first decade of the twentieth century sparked a revolution in modern technology. Aviation in the popular mind became associated with adventure and heroism. For African Americans. however. this new realm of human flight remained off-limits. a consequence of racial discrimination. Many African Americans displayed a keen interest in the new air age. but found themselves routinely barred from gaining ...

Review:

A well-written, copiously illustrated book with sharp photographs...and colorful posters of the record of American blacks in aviation-from fabric-winged biplanes to outer space....An inspiring volume.--School Library Journal

About this edition

• Publisher: Smithsonian Books
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0061261386
• ISBN 13: 9780061261381
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 180