PA hosts Black History Month photo exhibit

To honor Black History Month, the Port Authority hosted a month long Photo Exhibit in the Marine Air Terminal and LaGuardia Gateway Partners hosted an exhibit in conjunction with the Cradle of Aviation in the Terminal B Central Food Court throughout the month at LaGuardia Airport…

A haunting image of early Long Island African American pilot Lola Jackson is flanked by Isha Williams of ABM and Desiree Parker of DFA.

The iconic art deco Marine Air Terminal (Terminal A) was the venue for the “A Place for all People” exhibit, organized by the Smithsonian Institute (SITES) in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, LaGuardia ReImagined, the Corona-East Elmhu8rst Branch of the NAACP and hosted by the Port Authority. Under the grand skylight, numerous art objects were on display for the public to view on their way to Alaska, and Jet Blue airlines and to FB) Sheltair.

Faizan Khan, Sam Newman, and Oxana Macnish wait to assist customers heading back and forth from walkway to newly opened Garage B at La Guardia Gateway Partners Central Terminal.

In recognition of Black History Month, LaGuardia Central Terminal B and the Cradle of Aviation Museum partnered to present “Early African American Aviators.” The exhibit was on display in the Center Food Court between Gates B and C through February. Here, one could see life sized photographs and descriptions of the many Black women and men who pioneered the early days of aviation, especially on Long Island. The individuals and groups comprised African American aviators like the Harlem Air Squadron, also known as the Harlem Eagles, the first African American flying club in the United States and women pilots.

Pictured from left to right: Cassandra Hill, Regional Alliance M/WBE and Labor Force Diversity Project Manager for the Delta Terminal Expansion Program at JFK; Joanne Feltman, Community Outreach Specialist; Florence Koulouris, District Manager, Queens Community Board 1; Shanel Thomas, Community Outreach Manager LGA Redevelopment; Jacob Morris, Head of the Harlem Historical Society; Tania Barrett, JetBlue Airport Operations; Andre Maloy, Board Member, East Elmhurst Corona Civic Association; George Dixon, NAACP Corona-East Elmhurst Branch Vice President and Freedom Fund Chairman; Lester Youngblood, President, NAACP Corona-East Elmhurst Branch; Lysa Scully, GM LaGuardia Airport and Saeeda Dunston, Executive Director, Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities.
Photo Credit: Andre Wayne Maloy
Exhibit Written by Joanne Feltman