Honoring Black History Month
February 1, 2025 - AFA is proud to celebrate Black History Month in February, an annual national observance that highlights the power and impact of the Black community. Black History Month is a time to celebrate the lives, careers and contributions of those who paved the way for a more equal world — and commit to continuing the fights they started.
On February 11, 1958, Ruth Carol Taylor worked her first flight at Mohawk Airlines. She was the first African-American Flight Attendant in the U.S. Only six months after breaking one historic barrier, Taylor's career ended due to another discriminatory policy: the airline's marriage ban, a common practice among airlines of the day of dismissing Flight Attendants who became either married or pregnant.
Racial justice and economic justice are interlocked — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and pioneers of the Civil Rights movement stood shoulder to shoulder with Labor leaders like A. Philip Randolph, Al Shanker and the Reuther brothers, understanding that economic freedom is key to self-determination.
While we celebrate the contributions of trailblazers, this month is not just a time to highlight history — we must take on racism, poverty and inequality today to make lasting change. That starts in our union, in our industry and our country.
This month allows us to reflect on how far we have come, yet how much further we have to go and decide what our role will be in this work. In the face of ongoing and renewed prejudice and racism from the new administration, we stand strong as ever, united in the fight for justice.
Each of us has a role to play in building an inclusive, anti-racist workplace where every member can feel safe, welcomed and respected. And as we do this, we build power together to make a difference in our work lives and home lives.
Read AFA Human Rights & Equity Committee’s newsletter on Black History Month.
This month we’ll be spotlighting Black leaders and activists throughout our union. Be sure to follow us on social media so you don’t miss out! Nominate your flying partners here or send your ABC (All Black Crew) pictures to [email protected].