This letter is in response to Jill W. Tallman’s column, “Around the Patch: Tell Us Your Story” (September 2015 Flight Training).
When I was a student pilot, I recall the cold-shouldered and indifferent status-quo class of pilots coming and going to and from the school. Before I would leave my house, I had to determine that I would not allow any employee, line person, flight instructor, or pilot to intimidate me because I was black. My father taught me to walk into a business as though I was the owner, and I did just that: proud, bold and in charge, but not arrogant or egotistical.
However, approaching the front counter, the desk person barely made eye contact with me. They mostly grunted and spoke only because they knew that it was required. They acted as though I was an interruption to their day. There was no genuine welcome or enthusiasm about me stepping foot on the grounds of an airport, especially the part that their pristine little flight rested on. When I would ask for a sectional chart, study reference material, or to speak with an instructor, they would swell like a poisonous blowfish and finally lift their butts out of the seat that it was glued to and do something.
When instructors would walk in, they would not make eye contact with me or do anything to make me feel welcome. On the other hand, they spoke to other persons, in the school that shared their same skin color. This was and is sickening and morally corrupt. They would look right over me as though I was not there. After a short season of this type of disgusting show of polarization, I left and went to another school, only to find the same racist and ignorant behavior. This is something that Caucasians never experience. These are life realities that whites appear to be oblivious to, or have no heart of concern.
Solution: Flight schools nationwide need to diversify, in race and gender, if they expect to thrive financially. I will not give my money to any school or businesses that make me feel that they do not want me there. I spread the word to other potential students about these hateful flight schools. People have to be hit in the pocket book, at the core of their bottom line. When their bottom line goes red, rather than black, then they will be forced to change their highbrow and snobbish attitude.
Pastor Willie Robison
Memphis, Tennessee
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