Visiblemen

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/19/AR2009111904330_2.html

There are some key winning ingredients in this story. First, Colin himself is already showing the drive and vision that will help make him successful. Even the pits in his stomach and the restless night sleep before a big day of flying are great signs that he’s invested, and thinking about his performance. You don’t see that everyday in a teenage boy. His mother is dedicated, resourceful and committed to helping him achieve his dream. The Tuskegee Youth in Aviation Program paved the runway for Colin years ago.

The stats certainly show that this is an area where blacks are not well represented. 1.9 % of Air Force Pilots are black., or 270 out of 14,130. Cost, underexposure to profession and the daunting task of getting accepted to the Air Force Academy are a few reasons given for the small number of black Air Force pilots. Nelson Evans is the co-chairman of Tuskegee’s local Youth in Aviation program. Although I respect the candid realism Evans shares about the extremely competitive nature of becoming a Navy or Air Force pilot,
“To be a Navy or Air Force pilot and be black is not easy,” said Evans, a bank manager who holds a private pilot’s license. “It’s probably easier to be in the NFL.”

I shutter when I hear anyone make a statement about how being in the NFL could be an easier professional pursuit for a young black boy. Not true at all, and it’s a set up for far too many boys who see this or becoming an entertainer as their “ticket” out. Colin gets it, basketball (or football) is a game, flying is a career choice, he says.
When we encourage kids to dream big, give them the resources they need, provide a road map, believe in them, and sacrifice with them, they will indeed soar to great heights. Watch Colin fly.