# American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky - Hardcover

by **Sherri L. Smith** (Author), **Elizabeth Wein** (Author)

**From the acclaimed author of _Flygirl_ and the bestselling author of _Code Name Verity_ comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies.**

**"This beautiful and brilliant history of not only what it means to be Black and dream of flying but to, against every odd, do so, completely blew me away." --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner for _Brown Girl Dreaming_**

In the years between World War I and World War II, aviation fever was everywhere, including among Black Americans. But what hope did a Black person have of learning to fly in a country constricted by prejudice and Jim Crow laws, where Black aviators like Bessie Coleman had to move to France to earn their wings?

_American Wings_ follows a group of determined Black Americans: Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, skilled auto mechanics; Janet Harmon Bragg, a nurse; and Willa Brown, a teacher and social worker. Together, they created a flying club and built their own airfield south of Chicago. As the U.S. hurtled toward World War II, they established a school to train new pilots, teaching both Black and white students together and proving, in a time when the U.S. military was still segregated, that successful integration was possible.

Featuring rare historical photographs, _American Wings_ brings to light a hidden history of pioneering Black men and women who, with grit and resilience, battled powerful odds for an equal share of the sky.

### Author Biography

Sherri L. Smith is not a pilot, but she makes an excellent passenger (unless it's a very small plane). She is the author of numerous acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books for young people, including _Flygirl_, the winner of the California Book Awards' Gold Medal; _The Blossom and the Firefly_, the winner of the Golden Kite Award from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; _Orleans_; and _Who Were the Tuskegee Airmen?_ She teaches creative writing at Hamline University. Born in Chicago, Sherri now lives in Los Angeles. Learn more at SherriLSmith.com and follow her on Twitter @Sherri\_L\_Smith.

Elizabeth Wein is a recreational pilot and the owner of about a thousand maps. She is the author of several young adult novels, including _Code Name Verity_, an Edgar Award winner and a #1 _New York Times_ bestseller; _Black Dove, White Raven_, winner of the Children's Africana Book Award; and most recently, _Stateless_. Her book _A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II_ was a finalist for YALSA's Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award. A dual American-British citizen, Elizabeth lives in Scotland. Learn more at ElizabethWein.com and follow her on Twitter @EWein2412.

**Number of Pages:** 384

**Dimensions:** 1.18 x 9.33 x 6.38 IN

**Publication Date:** January 16, 2024

## Details

- **Price:** 19.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 19.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky - Hardcover

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