Book Description: 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 cours