African American Pioneers in the Travel Industry - Part 3
Posted by treasurer on Mar. 1, 2023 / Subscribe 0
Our last post to highlight African American Pioneers in the Travel Industry, we want to talk about the Henderson Travel Service, Margaret Grant, Perry H. Young Jr., The Hotel Robinson, Victor Hugo Green, and Warren H. Wheeler.
1st Photo – Henderson Travel Service
Henderson Travel Service – the First African American Travel Agency! In 1955, Freddye Henderson and her husband, Jacob, opened Henderson Travel Service in Atlanta to assist African Americans who wanted to travel internationally. The agency planned and booked thousands of trips, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1964 visit to Osla, Norway where he received the Nobel Peace Prize.
2nd Photo – Margaret Grant
Margaret Grant was the First Black Flight Attendant hired by a Major U.S. Airline in 1958. After Ruth Carol Taylor’s discrimination lawsuit against Trans World Airline (TWA), TWA hired Margaret Grant. Unfortunately, she was not there long as she suffered from sickle cell anemia which was issues at high altitude.
3rd Photo – Perry H. Young, Jr.
Perry H. Young, Jr. was the First Black Pilot hired by any U.S. Airline. As an airplane and helicopter pilot, Young was the first African American to be hired by a commercial airline in the US on December 17, 1956. His first flight was on February 5, 1957 and was from New York-LaGuardia to New York-Idlewild (now JFK) for New York Airways.
4th Photo – The Hotel Robinson
The Hotel Robinson was opened in 1897 by Albert Robinson and Margaret Tull Robinson. It was one of the first businesses and the first hotel to be owned and operated by an African American in southern California. The 14-room hotel today is known as the Julian Hotel.
5th Photo – Victor Hugo Green
Victor Hugo Green wrote the first travel guide for African Americans known as “The Green Book”. The Green Book showcased hotels, restaurants, and gas stations that did business with African Americans from 1936-1966.
6th Photo – Warren H . Wheeler
Warren Wheeler created Wheeler Flying Services which was the first Black-owned airline certified in the US issued by the FAA. In 1976, they renamed as Wheeler Airlines and operated until 1991.
Sources
https://headlines.flydayton.com/10-african-american-pioneers-aviation-aerospace/
https://historyofblacktravel.com/history/
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