First Black female Naval Aviator visits Pensacola
PENSACOLA, Fla.- A pioneer in aviation is in town Saturday
Lieutenant Commander, Brenda Robinson, has flown in many parts of the world; at a time when women were barely flying at all.
The first black female naval aviator shared her experiences coming up the ranks at the Naval Aviation Museum aboard NAS Pensacola.
From landing on aircraft carriers, to flying VIPs to and from the nation’s capital, to flying jumbo jets for the Airlines.
Robinson has an impressive resume and an inspiring story.
Now she travels the country as a motivational speaker, sharing her experiences to inspire the next generation.
"Women, young kids, minorities, everybody can do what I've been doing" said Brenda Robinson, Retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander and airline pilot.
But Brenda Robinson's ascension to the top wasn't easy.
After going to Dowling College to learn about air traffic control, she earned a degree aeronautics. Robinson then considered piloting planes herself.
After all, aviation was always her passion.
"I never heard of women aviators when I was little so all I wanted to do was be an airline stewardess and anything that was going to get me in the plane, that's what I was interested in" said Robinson.
In 1979, she entered a naval flight training program.
She was the 59th female to do so and the first black female to earn her wings a year later.
Robinson says very few women were in her training class.
As a result, she faced adversity along the way.
Back in those days, there weren't many qualified women pilots bold enough to enter a male dominated occupation.
Robinson says she dealt with her critics by staying focused on her goals.
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that she faced any adversity at all, because of her sex and/or race is the telling mark, still is, of this society. Barack Obama or not, this has never been a non-racist, unbigoted society. Still not there, a post racial/gender fearing/ acceptance of sexual orientation society/culture, that is.... 
