Bessie Coleman, circa 1922 photo Linkwood Williams, circa 1943 photo “Two Down, One to Go,” Red Tail in combat, 1944 Benjamin O. Davis Jr. in P-51, 1944 photo   The Black Wings Story Black Wings tells the story of how one group of Americans overcame enormous obstacles to break into aviation. African Americans shared the universal dream of flight. But for almost 50 years after the Wright brothers’ historic flight in 1903, racial discrimination denied black Americans access to this important sphere of technology. This online exhibit is about the early black pioneers of aviation who learned to fly despite all these formidable obstacles. To read more about the Black Wings story, visit the four chronological sections below. 1: Early Pioneers Inspire Blacks to Become Pilots 2: Training Prepares Black Pilots for War 3: Tuskegee Airmen Fight in World War II 4: The Quest for Equal Opportunity   NASM Main | Home | The Black Wings Story | Search the Archives | Classroom Activities | Teaching Resources | What's New