Last Thursday, American Airlines hosted its inaugural Legacy of Firsts event dedicated to honoring Black aviators and the founding fathers of the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). In 1964, Capt. Dave Harris joined American, becoming the first Black pilot for a major passenger airline. With Capt. Sam Samuels, the pair of pilots famously helped form the Soul Patrol — the first all-Black flight crew that often flew together in the 1980s. The airline has a history of firsts, in 1994, Capt. Sid Clark became the first Black chief pilot at U.S. Airways. All three history makers were honored at the event for breaking barriers into the world of aviation and paving the path for future Black pilots.

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