“Banning's accomplishments in aviation are remarkable”

"He was the first African American to successfully fly coast-to-coast from Los Angeles to New York and the first African American to receive a U.S. Department of Commerce pilot's license. But that is not his entire story. Banning's talent, tenacity and courage to overcome the challenges of segregation, prejudice, and the poverty of the Great Depression are the qualities that make him a hero."

— Fath David Ruffins, Curator of African American History and Culture, National Museum of American History

“Excellent way of infusing STEM with hidden history that both entertains and educates people of all ages!”

"Also 'engages students to understand how basic principles of STEM and problem solving are necessary in everyday life'.  One student said 'I liked it! I would never have learned about those guys and what they did for our people and America if I did not come today...pretty cool!'  I would highly recommend this production to any school who puts students first, are not afraid of open discussion, and who understand inquiry and its role in STEM education.  This production is flexible enough to be used from Black History Month to Science and Technology Fairs and everything in between. I was impressed when I saw it at NSTA, what a great idea and it has come along way! An interactive adventure meshing hidden history with the skill set of the future. I wish you the best of luck and I hope I am not too late for you to use any of these."

— Sam Washington, Westchester High School Science Teacher, Hartsdale, NY

As somebody who has written a lot about early Black aviation, I think that J. Herman Banning was the most important pilot in the era before the Tuskegee Airmen. There is no doubt that his skill as a pilot, his ability to share what he did with the media, inspired many generations.

As I build the National Museum of African American History and Culture, part of my task is to make sure that people who are often left out of history are remembered. One of the most important stories that I want to make sure is in this museum is the story of J. Herman Banning. So he will be in the national museum when it opens its doors in 2015.

— Lonnie Bunch

“Our students thoroughly enjoyed the play”

"We were delighted to have the performance of The Flying Hobos as part of our Science Extravaganza's culminating ceremony last June.  Our students thoroughly enjoyed the play, but more importantly, they learned about the invaluable contributions Banning and Allen made to our country's aviation history!"

—Miriam Bernabei, Westchester High School, Hartsadle, NY

“A worthy vehicle to tell the whole truth”

“This amazing film showcases a too often overlooked part of our country’s aviation history. The video/play reinforces our dedication to correct revisionist histories about African-American contributions and sacrifices.  A worthy vehicle to tell the whole truth.”

— Alicia Latimer, MHR, MLIS-  African-American Resource Center Coordinator, Tulsa City-County Library System

 

“The solutions, too, mirror those used to entice more women to work toward STEM careers”

"In 2015 Higher education administrators, students and industry professionals gathered in Washington, D.C., to speak to Congressional staffers and representatives about the need to attract more African-American men to STEM.  Because, African-American men are one of the only minority groups not making progress in STEM.

Many of the roadblocks that prevent young, African-American men and women from pursuing careers in STEM fields sound familiar: a lack of resources, role models and "relatability." The solutions, too, mirror those used to entice more women to work toward STEM careers: Start teaching and engaging students sooner, and work to dispel the curse of self-doubt."

— Dr. Pauline Harris, Title IX Director and Human Rights Coordinator Tulsa Public Schools

“It sparks creativity and leads to great success”

"I've had a chance to see the Fly with Banning exhibit for myself and I was fascinated by the story of James Herman Banning and the materials used for depicting his legacy. I grew up in North Tulsa and went to the public schools in the community and unfortunately, I was never made aware of him. The fact that he was a black man like me, and an Oklahoman like me, makes his story ever so motivating to me. However, Banning's story is powerful enough to move and motivate anyone to overcome obstacles and to follow their dreams. Children in our community need to be exposed to figures that they are not so familiar with like Banning. It sparks creativity and leads to great success in the classroom as well as our communities."

— Jonathan Townsend, Assistant to the Mayor for Community Development and Policy

“The exhibit itself is interactive, informative, and brings a story to life that would otherwise be forgotten”

"The Fly with Banning exhibit has been an amazing attraction at the airport; we constantly see travelers stopping by the exhibit to read more about Banning, take photos next to Banning’s photo. We have also received numerous compliments on social media regarding the exhibit, with the majority of them focusing on how they learned something new at the exhibit about James Herman Banning and his monumental aviation impact.

The airport wanted to go one step further and hold a Living History Presentation for our tenants, employees, Cultural Advisory Group, and guests. During our Fly with Banning week, we held the presentation next to the exhibit and had a great response. The actors were so impactful that during their performance we had several travelers stop what they were doing and take a seat to experience it firsthand.

We would highly recommend this exhibit to other airports, educational institutions, and museums. The exhibit itself is interactive, informative, and brings a story to life that would otherwise be forgotten. We were extremely happy to host this exhibit and are excited to continue to follow where it travels next."

— Stephanie Chester, Manager, Community Relations, Tulsa International Airport