(Ethiopianism birthday Alert - September 22) --- Remembering the Black Eagle of Harlem --- --- Today is the birthday of the late African American pilot Hubert Julian, who attain fame serving in the Ethiopian Air Force and as the Emperors personal pilot. Julian was born on this date on September 21, 1897 in Trinidad. It is believed Julian was the first man of color to acquire his pilots license in the United States. Dubbed The Black Eagle, in 1924, Julian attempted to fly his plane The Ethiopia from New York to Africa but crashed in the Atlantic. In 1929 he succeeded his transatlantic voyage and received wild celebrity status as the The Black Lindbergh. In 1930, Julian flew to Ethiopia where he wooed the Emperor Haile Selassie with his flying skills, receiving Ethiopian citizenship and employment as a Colonel in the Ethiopian airforce. Julian also serving as the Emperors personal pilot. Julian, flamboyant and mischievous, was shortly unwelcome in Addis after crashing the Emperors plane while performing anuncalled stunt in the sky, leaving Ethiopia. Julian returned again in 1935 at the dawn of the Italian invasion but his stay was again short when he was demoted after a fist-fight with another rising black pilot, American John C. Robinson--known as the Black Condor of Harlem. Julian faded into obscurity with old age, but in an interview with Jets magazine on November 17, 1974, Julian reportedly was quoted as saying he was preparing, even at age 77, to rescue Emperor Haile Selassie , then believed to have been held prisoner by the new government. On February 19, 1983, Julian passed away, his passing was reportedly gone unnoticed. Julian remains one of the most renown Ethiopianists of the twentieth century. (photo: Pilot Hubert Julian poses in Emperor Haile Selassies private plane)
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 01:42:12 +0000