{"product_id":"american-wings-sherri-l-smith-9780593323991","title":"American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom the acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eFlygirl \u003c\/i\u003eand the bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eCode Name Verity\u003c\/i\u003e comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"This beautiful and brilliant history of not only what it means to be Black and dream of flying but to, against every odd, do so, completely blew me away.\" --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner for \u003ci\u003eBrown Girl Dreaming\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn the years between World War I and World War II, aviation fever was everywhere, including among Black Americans. But what hope did a Black person have of learning to fly in a country constricted by prejudice and Jim Crow laws, where Black aviators like Bessie Coleman had to move to France to earn their wings? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eAmerican Wings\u003c\/i\u003e follows a group of determined Black Americans: Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, skilled auto mechanics; Janet Harmon Bragg, a nurse; and Willa Brown, a teacher and social worker. Together, they created a flying club and built their own airfield south of Chicago. As the U.S. hurtled toward World War II, they established a school to train new pilots, teaching both Black and white students together and proving, in a time when the U.S. military was still segregated, that successful integration was possible. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFeaturing rare historical photographs, \u003ci\u003eAmerican Wings\u003c\/i\u003e brings to light a hidden history of pioneering Black men and women who, with grit and resilience, battled powerful odds for an equal share of the sky.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Sherri L. Smith, Elizabeth Wein\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0593323998\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780593323991\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/14\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 384\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.79lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.25h x 5.50w x 0.97d","brand":"Sherri L. Smith","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46025024733439,"sku":"9780593323991","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_6baafe9e-2796-4916-869e-d9247dc34667.jpg?v=1723129790","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/american-wings-sherri-l-smith-9780593323991","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}