African Americans in aviation history will be profiled during February

FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -After more than a decade into the 21st century, our Air Force today is made up of a mix of ethnic backgrounds-people who work together for common goals and missions. But throughout our history, even throughout much of the 20th century, that hasn’t always been the case.

The beginning of February kicks off African American History Month and to honor that heritage, we will profile a different man or woman each day, a different person in aviation or Air Force history who helped pave the way for the Air Force we have today.

We’ll begin the series with Bessie Coleman, a young woman at the beginning of the 20th century who was forced to leave her country to fulfill her aviation dreams. We’ll then showcase men like Eugene Bullard and William Powell who struggled against extreme prejudice and segregation to also fulfill their dreams.

Then there are the Tuskegee Airmen, men like Benjamin O. Davis Jr., Lee Archer and C.D. “Lucky” Lester, who proved through their valor and bravery in the skies that African Americans were just as important in the fight as their white counterparts.

We’ll profile some of the important transitions of men and women who were early pioneers in the Air Force, as well as others who are still making their mark today. There is even a TV and movie personality who transcended her role as a fictional pioneer in space to make great strides in recruiting African Americans into the NASA space program.

A total of 29 profiles in 29 days: Some may surprise you, others may be familiar favorites, some you may even know personally, but all were and are important role models and trailblazers not only for their race, but for aviation and the U.S. Air Force as well.

(Editor’s note: Ho`okele will include some of these profiles during the month of February.)