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Craftsmen of Black Wings aircraft classroom at Jefferson High School, Lieutenant William J. Powell instructor, Los Angeles, 1930s

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Title: Craftsmen of Black Wings aircraft classroom at Jefferson High School, Lieutenant William J. Powell instructor, Los Angeles, 1930s
Alternative Title: Black Aviation
Date Created and/or Issued: [1930s]
1930/1939
Contributing Institution: UCLA, Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library
Collection: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
Rights Information: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Description: Craftsmen of Black Wings was a program at Jefferson High School to teach youths how to build, repair, and pilot aircraft. It was founded by William J. Powell, and his goal was to train and provide scholarships to students.
William J. Powell was an American engineer, soldier, civil aviator and author who is credited with promoting aviation among the African-American community. Along with Bessie Coleman and James Banning, he is recognized as a pioneer aviator and a civil rights activist. Powell was optimistic about the prospects of African Americans in aviation, and believed that their involvement in the industry would help end racial prejudice at a time of widespread segregation under the Jim Crow laws. [Wikipedia]
View of six young men Craftsmen of Black Wings program, working on various aspects of airplane construction in a workshop at Jefferson High School.
Caption: Aircraft classroom instruction--Jefferson High School--Lieut. William J. Powell, Instructor / "Craftsmen of Black Wings" Aircraft Repair Shop / Aircraft Repair Shops
Type: image
Identifier: uclalsc_1889_b19_f29_004.tif
ark:/21198/z12532c4
Subject: African American civic leaders
African Americans in aeronautics
African American students
African American air pilots
Craftsmen of Black Wings (Organization)
Powell, William J., 1899-1942
Source: Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection
OpenUCLA Collections

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