OBAP commemorates and celebrates African American History in Aviation with 2012 Project Aerospace: Boys to Men private showing of "Red Tails"

 

Chicago, IL (BlackNews.com) — On January 21, The Memphis Blackhawks, Memphis City Schools – Wooddale Middle and High Schools, the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP), the Tuskegee Airmen, Incorporated (TAI) – Memphis Chapter, Bessie Coleman Aerospace Legacy (BCAL), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated – Shelby County (TN) Alumnae Chapter, and the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees (NBCFAE) commemorate and celebrate African American history in aviation.

The Majestic Theater at 7051 Malco Crossing in Memphis is the location for this collaboration that will feature three events for the day, beginning with a Saturday morning private screening for Memphis area youth of the George Lucas film, Red Tails – which tells the story of heroic African-American pilots in the WWII-era Tuskegee Airmen, followed by a question and answer session with various aerospace professionals.

Red Tails is an action drama film directed by Anthony Hemingway from a screenplay by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder. The story written by Ridley is inspired by true events. This movie stars Cuba Gooding Jr. who previously starred in The Tuskegee Airmen, an HBO made-for-television film, and Terrence Howard who portrayed a Tuskegee pilot in Harts War. The scheduled release date is January 20.

Immediately following the screening students will convene at Memphis’ Wooddale High School at noon for an afternoon of education and fun-filled activities to further expose them to the world of aviation/aerospace. Other activities include networking with pilots, air traffic controllers, aircraft mechanics, flight attendants and more.

Later that evening members and guests of the coordinating organizations will convene for “Networking with a Purpose” an evening of fun, food and celebration at 7p.m. at the PGA Tournament of Players Club at Southwind.

For more information or to register, please visit our website at www.obap.org

About OBAP

Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to enhance, advance and promote educational opportunities in aviation. From the outset OBAP has focused its greatest emphasis on preparing young people to realize a successful future and highlight the exciting potential available in aviation. To be certain, an aviation oriented group representing African-American and Minority concerns was neither new nor unique. Years earlier the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. and Black Wings in Aviation had been formed with similar goals and both continue to be very active today. OBAP’s unique approach to the concept was to build on the progress made in the military and general aviation arenas by expanding the cause within the airline industry. Recently OBAP has expanded its goals to include all careers in aerospace.