The Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc., was a Los Angeles area high school program to learn how to build, repair, and pilot aircraft. It was founded by William J. Powell. 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] Advertisement for Craftsmen of Black Wings, Inc., with a photograph of a plane owned by Craftsmen, and four photographs of men and women, including a studio portrait of Albert Fisher, a wing commander, and a photo of transport pilot Al Anderson. Caption: Plane owned by Craftsmen of Black Wings / Center, left---Licensed Pilots, Center right- Licensed Pilots, Lower, left---Albert Fisher, Wing Commander, Lower, right---Transport Pilot, Parachute Jumper-Al Anderson.
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image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b19_f29_007.tif ark:/21198/z1nz9rs8
Subject
African American civic leaders African Americans in aeronautics African American women air pilots African American air pilots Anderson, Al Craftsmen of Black Wings (Organization) Fisher, Albert Powell, William J., 1899-1942
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