ABSTRACT
Perhaps the ethical issue that has had the most lasting impact in the United States concerns racism. This chapter provides a historical analysis of racial discrimination against US pilots of African descent. It provides the key reasons why both gender and racial discrimination continue to exist and, more importantly, some of the ways in which discrimination can be overcome. In examining the historical context of several prominent African-American aviators, the chapter reveals those pioneers who dispelled the prejudicial attitudes of white America. It covers the early years of aviation through the 1976 formation of the Organization of Black Airline Pilots (OBAP)–now known as the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals; and from this analysis one can readily discern why the early struggles of Bessie Coleman and other important aviators is far from over. The mission of OBAP was to prepare young blacks and other minorities for a career in aviation, and to ensure that the airlines engaged in fair employment practices.
