Black Eagles: African Americans in Aviation [Library Binding]

James Haskins (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Documenting the neglected history of black pioneers in American aviation, a Coretta Scott King Award winner looks at African Americans in aviation, from early aces forced to earn their wings in Europe to the first female African-American astronaut.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A labored effort to create a comprehensive picture of pioneers in black aviation, from Eugene Bullard, who served in the French flying corps in World War I when the U.S. Army would only allow whites to fly, to the first black astronauts. Haskins briefly surveys mainstream aviation firsts and cultural history to provide background, but his narrative moves a lot more smoothly when he devotes more space to a single individual, e.g., Bessie Coleman, Benjamin Davis, Jr., and Guion Bluford. Philip S. Hart's Flying Free (Lerner, 1992) tells a clearer, more readable story through the 1930s, but Haskins carries the story further, giving more information about black achievements and problems in World War II and introducing more black astronauts. Black-and-white photos and reproductions appear throughout.
Margaret Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Library, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Readers who think that the story of African Americans in aviation begins with the World War II Tuskegee squadron and ends with astronaut Mae Jemison will note that nearly a third of this book is devoted to African Americans who flew during the period before World War II. Eugene Bullard flew with the French before the Lafayette Escadrille, and Bessie Coleman thrilled crowds in the 1920s. In addition to introducing the people involved, Haskins ably sets the background scene, revealing a social context of discrimination that includes, for example, an account of the protest undertaken by the 477th Bombardment Group during World War II. He also relates the better-known, generally more positive, story of the Tuskegee squadron. An excellent job of dealing with the particular and the more general aspects of "what it was like." Bibliography and a chronology appended. Mary Harris Veeder

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 196 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Trade (February 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590459120
• ISBN-13: 978-0590459129
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,218,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Black Eagles, February 20, 2011

By 

Mary E. Young "JanaRose1" (Covington, Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Eagles: African-americans In Aviation (Mass Market Paperback)

Black Eagles is a compilation of African American achievements in aviation and the space race. It discuses numerous aviators and outlines in detail their accomplishments. The book covers individuals from Eugene Bullard, who served in the French flying corps in WWI to Ronald McNair, who perished in the Challenger space shuttle disaster. Although I found the book interesting, it is a bit dry and factual. I don't know if a child would absorb all of the information and enjoy the book.

4.0 out of 5 stars From WWI pioneer Eugene Bullard to stunt aviator Bessie Coleman, to astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, and more!, June 11, 2008

By 

Marynna L. Kerce (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Eagles: African-americans In Aviation (Mass Market Paperback)

Don't miss it!

A collector's item, a treat for the history buff. Jim Haskins' little known gem traces the history of aviation and the contributions of many African Americans to aviation and aerospace, from pioneer Eugene Bullard, from 1920s stunt aviator Bessie Coleman, to modern astronauts such as Dr. Mae Jemison.

Includes many photographs of superstars such as pioneers Eugene Bullard and Hubert Julian, daredevil stunt pilot Bessie Coleman, the Tuskegee Airmen, Willa Brown, Janet Waterford-Bragg, transcontinental aviators C. Albert Anderson and Dr. Albert E. Forsythe, General Benjamin O. Davis and son, space shuttle astronauts Guion Bluford, Ronald McNair, Frederick Gregory, Charles Bolden, Mae Jemison, and many other aviators, developers, flight instructors, and financiers, too many to list here.

Black Eagles offers a fascinating history of aviation, from the perspective of the African-American experience.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in US history, African-American history, and the history of aviation.