FLYING HIGH: Three plays (monologues)
performed within one hour. ‘Flying High” honors three minority and women
aviation pioneers.
FLYING HIGH
“My Spirit Lives On"
"My Spirit Lives On" is one of three
plays performed within one hour that make up the "Flying High" series.
"My Spirit Lives On" is the story of Bessie Coleman, who despite being
born into poverty became the first African-American woman to earn a
pilot’s license in the United States (1922). She had to go to France
for her training because of her color and helped reduce racial
discrimination and opened doors for African-Americans to enter careers in
aviation.
"My Spirit Lives On" is performed in
conjunction with a monologue on Neal Loving and Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Neal
Loving, who lost both legs below the knee in a glider crash as a young
man, opened a flying school 18 months later and designed, built and flew
five experimental planes; and
Anne
Morrow Lindbergh who overcame shyness, fear of flying and personal
tragedy to partner with her famous husband charting air routes around the
word.
All three confronted formidable
challenges and adversity.
The plays have been performed to
enthusiastic audiences at historical societies, aviation museums and high
schools.
Excerpts
“My first air exhibition – that’s what it
was called, child – was promoted in 1922 by Robert Abbott’s newspaper,
Stories told readers about opportunities in the new field of aviation.
They didn’t say blacks weren’t welcome.”
** “When I found out blacks and whites used
separate entrances and sat is separate bleachers to see the shows I
refused to fly until everyone used the same gate and shared the same
planks.”
** “We had dozens of mishaps and close calls
– and what money we made was spent fixin’ planes with little left over to
put in the pot to start a flight school.”
** “My spirit lives on wherever people
gather to talk flyin’ – especially young black people thinkin’ of careers
in aviation. I help them dream their dreams.”
