Black Wings; Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History
New York: Collins in association with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, 2008. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. Format is approximately 8.25 inches by 10.5 inches. x, 180, [2] pages. Illustrations (some in color). Notes and Sources for further information. Index. Martin Caidin praised author Von Hardesty's Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power, 1941-1945, deeming Hardesty's chronicle of Soviet military air power during World War II "a brilliant study" and commending its "wealth of detail on structure, policy, organization and statistical data." In addition to Red Phoenix, Hardesty has written and edited numerous other books about aviation. Hardesty is author with Gene Eisman of Epic Rivalry: The Inside Story of the Soviet and American Space Race. The book examines the intense rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union as the two countries launched their space programs in the 1950s. Using declassified documents and a number of other American and Russian sources, the authors detail both the American and Russian perspectives as each country tried to outdo the other in order to achieve the prize goal of achieving dominance in outer space. Hardesty is also editor of the 1996 book, Stalin's Aviation Gulag: A Memoir of Andrei Tupolev and the Purge Era, written by L.L. Kerber. This story of the Russian aviation pioneer's life and his torments under Joseph Stalin's regime was called "refreshingly lively reading" by Aerospace Power Journal contributor David R. Johnson. In Black Wings: Courageous Stories of African Americans in Aviation and Space History, Hardesty chronicles the achievements of African Americans in the history of U.S. flight, from the era of biplanes to space flight. The author writes about pioneers such as the first black World War I combat pilot, Eugene Jacques Bullard, and the pioneering black woman pilot Bessie Coleman. He examines in depth the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen, the African American fighter squadron in World War II, and also discusses issues of racism that African American pilots have faced throughout history, both on the job and at home after returning from heroic efforts in war. Referring to Black Wings as "a well-written, copiously illustrated book," School Library Journal contributor Alan Gropman also called the book "an inspiring volume." 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. Condition: Very good / Very good.
Keywords: Bessie Coleman, Barnstormer, Prejudice, Racism, African-Americans, Tuskegee Airmen, Astronaut, Edward Dwight, Test Pilot, NASA, Alfred Anderson, James Banning, Civil Rights, Benjamin O. Davis, William Powell, Discrimination, 332nd Fighter Group
ISBN: 9780061261381
[Book #85571]
Price: $175.00