View of a group of young adults in the Craftsmen of Black Wings program, in a classroom at Jefferson High School the instructor, William J. Powell holding up the frame of an aircraft wing. 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] Caption: Aircraft classroom instruction--Jefferson High School--Lieut. William J. Powell, Instructor.
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b19_f29_005.tif ark:/21198/z1xd2jtj
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
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