American Wings: Chicago’s Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky
Sherri L. Smith, Elizabeth Wein
This nonfiction history examines determined Black pilots who pursued aviation from the early twentieth century onward despite racism and segregation. It follows figures including Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, while placing their efforts in a country shaped by Jim Crow laws. The book also notes that Bessie Coleman had to go to France to earn her pilot’s wings. Archival photographs and extensive back matter support its account of Black aviators seeking equality in the skies.
This book appears on 2 reading lists across 1 edition from 2 organizations.
