Uploaded June 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
amazon.com/Wings-Fly-Jarnell-Stokes/dp/1734245204
JUNE 27 - ON THIS DAY - IN BLACK HISTORY
CAPTAIN BARRINGTON IRVING
In 2007, 23-year-old Barrington broke major barriers and borders in the travel industry as the first Black and youngest pilot to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft— all because he first saw another Black man reach success as a commercial pilot.
"I asked him one question” “’ How much money do you make?’ and after his response the rest is history. I took an interest in aviation and little did I know this industry would give me a chance to see the world...The whole world." -Barrington Irving
Sometimes, seeing someone who looks like you excel in a field you never even thought of, can change your whole life path. That was the case for Jamaican-born pilot Barrington Irving.
Barrington’s family immigrated to Miami when he was 6-years-old. He grew up in two of the area’s roughest neighborhoods and like many young Black boys around his way, he initially only saw himself growing up to play football.
“That was the realm of my possibility,” -Barrington Irving
As destiny would have it, Irving randomly met a successful Black pilot. He was enamored by his fancy car and jewelry without knowing what he did for a living. The pilot noticed a curious young Irving staring, and came up to him to talk.
“This was early 2001. He came up to me and asked me if I ever thought about aviation. He told me what he did for a living, and I asked him how much money he made, he told me $117 an hour. The rest was history.”
The pilot took Irving under his wings and began mentoring him. Although his schedule was busy, he carved out 30-minutes once a month to talk to Irving about his global travels and life as a Black pilot.
“For 30-minutes each month, I saw the world through his words,”
“It changed my life.”
During his teenage years, he worked at the airport and trained with a computer flight simulator to build his aviation skills.
“It took 3 and a half years of planning,” he said. “When I initially set out to accomplish my goal, I didn’t know that I was the first Black man to do so. I knew I was the youngest, but not the first Black man.”
“I lost 30-pounds on that trip. I would fly between 10 and 14 hours straight each day. Some stops were shorter than others because I was in remote parts of the world, with nothing to really do.
He completed the journey on June 27, 2007.
Once on the ground, he remembers being exhausted, but in awe of the number of children that had followed his journey. It inspired him to go even further in helping to change and shape their current landscape.
Ted Talk youtube.com/watch?v=yUiTNFAG4_c
The Breakfast Club youtube.com/watch?v=WUwT_hIS5iU
experienceaviation.org
amazon.com/Wings-Fly-Jarnell-Stokes/dp/1734245204
JUNE 27 - ON THIS DAY - IN BLACK HISTORY
CAPTAIN BARRINGTON IRVING
In 2007, 23-year-old Barrington broke major barriers and borders in the travel industry as the first Black and youngest pilot to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft— all because he first saw another Black man reach success as a commercial pilot.
"I asked him one question” “’ How much money do you make?’ and after his response the rest is history. I took an interest in aviation and little did I know this industry would give me a chance to see the world...The whole world." -Barrington Irving
Sometimes, seeing someone who looks like you excel in a field you never even thought of, can change your whole life path. That was the case for Jamaican-born pilot Barrington Irving.
Barrington’s family immigrated to Miami when he was 6-years-old. He grew up in two of the area’s roughest neighborhoods and like many young Black boys around his way, he initially only saw himself growing up to play football.
“That was the realm of my possibility,” -Barrington Irving
As destiny would have it, Irving randomly met a successful Black pilot. He was enamored by his fancy car and jewelry without knowing what he did for a living. The pilot noticed a curious young Irving staring, and came up to him to talk.
“This was early 2001. He came up to me and asked me if I ever thought about aviation. He told me what he did for a living, and I asked him how much money he made, he told me $117 an hour. The rest was history.”
The pilot took Irving under his wings and began mentoring him. Although his schedule was busy, he carved out 30-minutes once a month to talk to Irving about his global travels and life as a Black pilot.
“For 30-minutes each month, I saw the world through his words,”
“It changed my life.”
During his teenage years, he worked at the airport and trained with a computer flight simulator to build his aviation skills.
“It took 3 and a half years of planning,” he said. “When I initially set out to accomplish my goal, I didn’t know that I was the first Black man to do so. I knew I was the youngest, but not the first Black man.”
“I lost 30-pounds on that trip. I would fly between 10 and 14 hours straight each day. Some stops were shorter than others because I was in remote parts of the world, with nothing to really do.
He completed the journey on June 27, 2007.
Once on the ground, he remembers being exhausted, but in awe of the number of children that had followed his journey. It inspired him to go even further in helping to change and shape their current landscape.
Ted Talk youtube.com/watch?v=yUiTNFAG4_c
The Breakfast Club youtube.com/watch?v=WUwT_hIS5iU
experienceaviation.org
