“Black Wings” Exhibit in Kansas City for a three-month showcase starting February 4th at Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center

“Black Wings” Exhibit in Kansas City for a three-month showcase starting February 4th at Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center

“Black Wings” Exhibit in Kansas City for a three-month showcase starting February 4th at Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center

Presented by the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, “Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight” is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. The exhibition examines the contributions of some of the most noted African American aviators who helped make the dream of careers in flight and space exploration possible.

Developed by noted scholar and Smithsonian curator Von Hardesty, the exhibition traces the history of African Americans in flight through a stirring collection of historical and contemporary photographs, first-hand interviews and extraordinary stories of triumph and tragedy.

Divided into six sections, the “Black Wings” exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the MetLife Foundation and offers a compelling overview of a truly inspiring saga of African American aviators from the barnstormers of the 1920’s to the daring astronauts of the 21st century.

Two of the many individuals highlighted in this exhibition are Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to obtain her pilot’s license, and aviator William Powell who led an ambitious program to promote aviation in the African American community.

Another important section of the “Black Wings” exhibit is devoted to the Tuskegee Airmen. This section has special meaning to the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center because the Center’s namesake, Bruce R. Watkins was himself a Tuskegee Airman. At the time the Tuskegee Airmen served in the US Armed Forces, the US military was segregated and no African American had ever served as a military pilot.

In 1940, under pressure from civil rights leaders, the Army Air Corps created the first all-black flying unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. The men who trained and fought in the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group became known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

From the Tuskegee Airmen who fought in World War II to space shuttle commanders and crewmembers, “Black Wings” honors those whose determination and fortitude helped pave the way and broke through barriers to open new possibilities for succeeding generations of pilots and astronauts.

The Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center presents the “Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight” (Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10am – 6pm) starting Tuesday, February 4th through Saturday, May 3rd. The exhibit is open to the public with free admittance. For more information, contact the Center at 816.513.0700.

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