It was 1964 and black men didn't fly commercial jets. But David Harris
was about to change that ...
After years of flying B-52 bombers in the United States Air Force, David
Harris applied to be a pilot for commercial airliners, an opportunity no
other African American before him---not even the famed Tuskegee
Airmen---had ever been afforded. After receiving rejection after
rejection, he finally signed on with American Airlines in 1964. But this
success was just the beginning of another uphill battle for equal
treatment.
It was the height of the civil rights movement, a time of massive
protests as people struggled to end racial segregation and give Black
people equal rights. As a light-skinned, light-eyed Black man, David was
told by many people he could have "passed" for white. But he didn't do
that. Instead, he made the bold decision to disclose his race to his
employers and fellow airmen. He had experienced discrimination
throughout his life, but this was different. He now carried the pride of
his family and the hopes of future Black aviators on his shoulders.
This gripping narrative, perfect for middle grade readers and Black
History Month, follows Harris's turbulent path to become the first
African-American commercial airline pilot in the U.S., presented against
the backdrop of racial tensions, protests, and the landmark civil rights
legislation of the 1960s. It's the story of a man who fought social
injustice the only way he knew how---by succeeding.
**
**
Don't miss Michael H. Cottman's other middle grade fan favorite,
Shackles From the Deep, which Booklist called "rich with intrigue
and poignant, thought-provoking questions ... Part mystery, part
history, part self-discovery, a stunning trip well worth taking."
(Starred review)
