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First all female African American flight crew makes history
I love good news from the aviation world - it really does bring a smile to my face amongst all the doom and gloom stories out there.A good example of something great comes from regional carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines. For the first time in history, a domestic US flight was staffed by an all female African American flight crew.
The 4 - Captain Rachelle Jones, First Officer Stephanie Grant, and flight attendants Diana Galloway and Robin Rogers probably did not know that they were about to make history when they boarded their flight from Atlanta to Nashville.
When the crew realized the importance of their flight, they were naturally quite excited, and captain Jones said " this could be a first, so let's be on our P's and Q's".
ASA President Brad Holt issued the following statement: "Not only are these women gifted in their professions, but they set examples for young people across the country that with hard work, passion and determination, the sky is the limit."
Atlantic Southeast Airlines has a special contact page, where you can leave your own message of congratulations to the crew of flight 5202.
Other tales from the skies
Amazing and insane stories from a real-life flight attendant and co-pilot
Amazing and insane stories from a real-life flight attendant and co-pilot
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Vickie Mar 5th 2009 8:29AM
Now THAT is stupid!! You think they are going to crash the plane because there's a white man in seat 12A?
Or is it because they are women?
Either way, your ignorance is showing.
Arthur Smith Mar 3rd 2009 4:01PM
An all-female flight crew. So?
fifaref99 Mar 3rd 2009 4:15PM
All African-American female flight crew. A small but important distinction in the story.
Arthur Smith Mar 3rd 2009 4:22PM
You mean there's a difference?
Corey O Mar 3rd 2009 6:52PM
How do you even know this is the first time this has happened? Do airlines keep statistics about how many minorities work each flight? This has to have at least already happened in smaller planes.
Scott Carmichael Mar 3rd 2009 8:06PM
They know because there are only 10 female African American captains in the US aviation industry. Small enough world to know how often this may or may not have happened.
Secret Asian Man Mar 3rd 2009 7:37PM
Soul Plane!
Pickles Mar 5th 2009 11:47AM
lol SAM
:D
---
Good for them. It doesn't seem all that important which just goes to show exactly how important it is. This would have been shocking 40 years ago. Now people are like, "Four women flying a commercial plane and they're all A.A.? So what? No biggie."
Progress of this sort makes me stop and smile.
I'm happy that most people think this is not a big deal. If it were show stopping news, then the progress in changing mindsets would not have been so great.
msaljorie75 Mar 6th 2009 5:18AM
HowFU doing???
Notice anything in the middle ahole??? LMAO
Irina Mar 5th 2009 6:17AM
You prove your own theory to be false. Racism is ignorance; You did prove that.
J.M. Mar 5th 2009 6:28AM
Oh geez. Let's extrapolate on your assertion. I guess that since you didn't make any spelling errors you're no longer a nitwit.
J.M. Mar 5th 2009 6:34AM
Um... considering that every other ethnic group represented in America has a hyphenated designation ie. Italian-Americans, German-Americans why does it offend you that descendants of African slaves would identify themselves in like manner? Until the late 60's African-Americans were identified by whatever whites called them, Negro, colored, etc. African-American is of their own choice and a step toward inclusion in the fabric of the society.
Buddyr Mar 6th 2009 8:57AM
I hate to correct you but. I am of German decent but I do not call myself an "American German" and no one in my Family or other Germans that I know call themselfs "German Americans" We are all just plain old Americans. This sticking a race separator in front of your nationality identifier is a bunch of crap. It only serves to devide this country.
ProPalin Mar 5th 2009 5:55PM
VERY VERY FEW Blacks in this country have actually descended from slaves. The great majority descended from immigrants. My Black friends have asked to not be called A.A. as they are not from Africa. They also scorn the mindset of "poor pitiful me, I came from slaves" as a cowardly and lazy way out of taking responsibility.
Congrats to the ladies!
Allie Mar 5th 2009 6:39AM
My family came from other countries too. I have never identified myself as any thing less than AMERICAN. No hyphens, no dashes, NO other country coming before AMERICAN.
There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all.
~T. Roosevelt Addressing the Knights of Columbus in New York City
12 October 1915
johnjfoote@aol.com Mar 5th 2009 9:50AM
Right on point!
Redman Mar 5th 2009 11:12AM
Allie said...
Excellent! I feel the same way. I know that I am at least 6+ generations descended from Irish immigrants,
but I have never said that I am "Irish-American"!
I am and will always be an "American"!
Pickels Mar 5th 2009 12:12PM
Bravo Allie.
I am of the opinion that these labels [ethnic and religious] forced upon us by government are designed to keep us separated into smaller and easier to control "special interest" groups. If middle and lower class AMERICANS of all religious and ethnic backgrounds stood united on the important issues and refused to be divided by what box we have to check on government forms or b.s. legislation designed to distract us from the real issues, then they would be facing a 300,000,000 strong unstoppable force.
Allie Mar 6th 2009 4:59AM
go here: http://wesurroundthemmap.com/ and find a meetup near you. STAND UP AND BE HEARD!
Kay Mar 13th 2009 6:03PM
I'd just like you all to consider this:
Blacks were not considered Americans when they came to this country. Until the civil rights movement, we were not treated as Americans. We were treated as less than equal and were not afforded the same liberties as others. Even immigrants were accepted and treated better if they were "light" complexioned. It took a peaceful revolt in the form of the Civil Rights Movement to change any of this. At the time, hyphenated identities were being widely used; so we simply followed suite with the vernacular that already existed. We did not create it.
Learn the true history of this country and own it instead of always being so quick lash out.
As for me, anything is better than "Nigger." I have lived it.