ISBN: 1560983418

During the 1930s a prominent black entrepreneur and pilot named William J. Powell urged blacks to acquire the skills to become pilots, mechanics, and aviation business leaders, so that th… More...

During the 1930s a prominent black entrepreneur and pilot named William J. Powell urged blacks to acquire the skills to become pilots, mechanics, and aviation business leaders, so that they could attain economic power in the air age and break down the barriers of racism.Powell shared his vision of black advancement in his thinly disguised 1934 autobiography, Black Wings, now reissued as Black Aviator after six decades of obscurity. Containing new photographs and historical information on Powell's life and times (1899-1942), the book chronicles the formative part of Powell's career in aviation through the fictional personality of "Bill Brown." The narrative begins with Powell's first airplane ride in Paris in 1927 (three months after Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic) and then moves to Los Angeles, where he pursued his career in aviation full time.Powell worked tirelessly to promote black awareness of aviation, recruiting Duke Ellington, Joe Louis, and other prominent figures as sponsors. Black Aviator recounts how he founded the Bessie Coleman Aero Club to promote flying within the black community, sponsored record-breaking flights, and organized air shows. Powell provides vivid portrayals of early black pilots such as Hubert Fauntleroy Julian, James Herman Banning, and C. Alfred Anderson.Based on real events and individuals, Bill Brown's story describes how black pilots first broke into aviation in the Depression years. An introductory essay by Von Hardesty african-american and black,biographies,ethnic and national,science and math,social science,social sciences,technology African-American & Black, Smithsonian Institution Press<

ISBN: 9781560983415

In this thinly disguised autobiography -- reissued after six decades of obscurity -- William J. Powell chronicles the formative part of his career in aviation and presents his efforts to … More...

In this thinly disguised autobiography -- reissued after six decades of obscurity -- William J. Powell chronicles the formative part of his career in aviation and presents his efforts to promote black awareness of aviation to attain economic power and break down the barriers of racism. Black Aviator: The Story of William J. Powell Powell, William J. / Hardesty, Von, Smithsonian Books<

ISBN: 9781560983415

In this thinly disguised autobiography -- reissued after six decades of obscurity -- William J. Powell chronicles the formative part of his career in aviation and presents his efforts to … More...

In this thinly disguised autobiography -- reissued after six decades of obscurity -- William J. Powell chronicles the formative part of his career in aviation and presents his efforts to promote black awareness of aviation to attain economic power and break down the barriers of racism. Media > Book<

ISBN: 1560983418

Black Aviator : The Story of William J. Powell african-american and black,biographies,ethnic and national,science and math,technology African-American & Black, Smithsonian Institution Press

ISBN: 9781560983415

Smithsonian Institution Press. Used - Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear., Smithsonian Institution Press