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?
Bessie Coleman Bessie Coleman (January 26, 1892April 30, 1926) was an American civil aviator. She was the first woman of African-American descent, and the first of Native American descent, to hold a pilot license.
Léopoldine Doualla-Bell Smith Léopoldine Doualla-Bell Smith is the world's first black flight attendant. She was born in Cameroon, and was a princess of the royal Douala family of Cameroon. She took her first flight as a flight attendant (with Union Aéromaritime de Transport) in 1957. In 1960 she was invited to move to Air Afrique; she was then the only qualified African person in French aviation, and thus became the first employee hired by Air Afrique. She shortly became Air Afrique's first cabin chief. She flew for twelve years. She was honored at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Black Flight Attendants of America at Los Angeles International Airport’s Flight Path Museum.