Father of the Tuskegee Airmen, John C. RobinsonAcross black America during the Golden Age of Aviation, John C. Robinson was widely acclaimed as the long-awaited “black Lindbergh.” Robinson’s fame, which rivaled that of Joe Louis and Jesse Owens, came primarily from his wartime role as the commander of the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force after Italy invaded Ethiopia in 1935. As the only African American who served during the war’s entirety, the Mississippi-born Robinson garnered widespread recognition, sparking an interest in aviation for young black men and women. Known as the “Brown Condor of Ethiopia,” he provided a symbolic moral example to an entire generation of African Americans. While white America remained isolationist, Robinson fought on his own initiative against the march of fascism to protect Africa’s only independent black nation. Robinson’s wartime role in Ethiopia made him America’s foremost black aviator. Robinson made other important contributions that predated the Italo-Ethiopian War. After graduating from Tuskegee Institute, Robinson led the way in breaking racial barriers in Chicago, becoming the first black student and teacher at one of the most prestigious aeronautical schools in the United States, the Curtiss-Wright Aeronautical School. In May 1934, Robinson first planted the seed for the establishment of an aviation school at Tuskegee Institute. While Robinson’s involvement with Tuskegee was only a small part of his overall contribution to opening the door for blacks in aviation, the success of the Tuskegee Airmen—the first African American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces—is one of the most recognized achievements in twentieth-century African American history. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 19 | |
3 Breaking Down More Racial Barriers | 35 |
4 Twin DreamsTuskegee and Ethiopia | 55 |
5 Commanding Emperor Selassies Imperial Ethiopian Air Force | 89 |
6 The Fascist Invasion of Ethiopia | 119 |
7 The Gods of War Turn against Ethiopia | 157 |
8 Returning a War Hero | 189 |
10 The Winds of World War | 239 |
Epilogue | 261 |
Aviation Cadets Trained Aviation Cadets Trained by John Robinsons Team | 265 |
Notes | 267 |
| 309 | |
| 321 | |
About the Author | 329 |
9 Aviation Visions Burn Brightly | 201 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Addis Ababa Adowa African Americans African-American Reactions Air Corps aircraft airplane airport American Black Americans in Aviation Army Air Barnett Papers black America black aviation black pilots Black Wings bombers bombing Bragg and Kriz Brown Condor Symposium Brown Eagle Aero Challenger Aero Challenger Air Pilots Chicago Defender Coffey Colonel John Colonel Robinson Curtiss-Wright Days ofEmperor Divided Skies Dugan and Lafore Eagle Aero Club Emperor Selassie Ethio Ethiopia Ethiopian Air Force fascism flew flight flyers flying Gulfport Haile Sellassie Hardesty and Pisano Ibid Imperial Ethiopian Air instructor interview with author Italian Air Italy Italy’s Jakeman John Robinson Lion March 15 mechanics military aviation Mississippi Mockler Mussolini nation Negro November 21 ofEmperor and Clown ofthe plane racial Real Story Regia Aeronautica Robinson continued Robinson to Barnett role Scott and Womack Simmons Address Soaring Above Setbacks Tartt Tuskegee Airmen Tuskegee Institute Tuskegee’s United volunteers Washington Waterford World York young