William Jennifer Powell is a pioneer aviator and civil rights activist, along with James Banning and the first woman of African-American and what descent, to hold a pilot license?
William J. Powell William Jenifer Powell (July 27, 1897 – July 12, 1942) 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.
Yvonne Clark Yvonne Y. Clark (born Georgianna Yvonne Young, in Houston, Texas on 13 April 1929) is a pioneer for African-American and women engineers. She is the first woman to get a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at Howard University. She is the first woman to earn a master's degree in Engineering Management from Vanderbilt University. She is the first woman to serve as a faculty member in the College of Engineering and Technology at Tennessee State University, now emereti Professor.