Banning, James Herman

1899-1933 · Contribution: 1926-1932

Transportation

First African American to be licensed as a pilot by the U.S. government; co-completed the first transcontinental flight by Black pilots

Transportation: collage image
Transportation

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Quick facts

Born
1899-1933
Active since
1926-1932
Category
Transportation

Impact on the world

Banning shattered the assumption that transcontinental flight belonged only to well-financed white aviators, showing what Black pilots could achieve with almost nothing.

An alternative history

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Sources

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    Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Pioneers of Flight)

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