Soul Plane: The Reality of the Airline Industry

Ever seen Soul Plane? No? Well, if you have had the pleasure, nay, privilege of viewing this modern masterpiece of cinema then you have an been prepped on the current state of the airline industry.

Remember, Black Run America (BRA) is the concept that governs all levels of industry, government and academic life in the United States. The airlines are no exception to this rule and the idea inherent in Soul Plane dictates corporate policy for all air carriers and ensures that the friendly skies smile widest for Black people.

For those unfamiliar with the intellectually stimulating film Soul Plane, allow a quick synopsis of the film:

After Nashawn Wade (Kevin Hart) gets his rear end stuck in an airline toilet, the plane suffers a minor disaster and, as a result, his dog is sucked through a jet engine. He then sues the airline and gets a settlement of $100,000,000. He decides to use the money to start his own airline, called NWA/Nashawn Wade Airlines, whose acronym and logo are a pop culture reference to rap group N.W.A. and based on the real airline Northwest Airlines. The airline specifically caters to African Americans and hip hop culture. The terminal at the airport is called the Malcolm X terminal, the plane is a heavily modified 747-200, customized with low-rider hydraulics, spinners, blended winglets for longer range, and a dance club. The safety video is also a spoof of the Destiny's Child song "Survivor".

Though Black people comprise only 13 percent of the United States population, the airline industry has capitulated to the ideals of BRA to market their wares exclusively to a demographic that isn't exactly one capable of purchasing tickets to travel by plane:

Black net worth declined to a paltry $5,998 per household, while the net worth for white households grew by 17 percent during the same period to $88,651. Twenty percent of black median net worth was in cash, approximately $1,200, with the balance comprised of home equity. The housing foreclosure crisis of the past eight years has caused Black America to lose between $72 billion and $93 billion in housing-equity wealth.

Yet the airline industry has decided to pursue this economically challenged demographic with a Captain Ahab intensity, as the Black market is key to growing a market sector riddled with massive quarterly losses.

American Airlines has pursued the Black air traveler with an intensity that rivals McDonald's, instituting a marketing strategy called Black Atlas: Your Passport to the Black Experience. What is this Black Atlas you ask, obviously aware that it is Black air passengers that comprise the bulk of airplane passengers whom hold aloft the crumbling industry like the mythical Atlas:

Today, American Airlines launched Black Atlas, a site dedicated to connecting African-American travelers with each other.

The site is the first for black Americans to combine the reviewing features of a TripAdvisor-type site with the social-networking features of a Facebook-type site.

Nelson George, the well known music journalist and producer of the current hit film Good Hair, is the site's editor. In a series of blog posts and professionally-produced videos, George shows members of Black Atlas how to see the coolest sights around the world—and how to share recommendations with other travelers.

We at SBPDL searched in vain to find a Web site that broke down air passengers by racial demographic, but based upon personal experience the breakdown of airline passengers that are Black easily falls under 5 percent. Ebony even claims the idea of First Class is racist! We did find an article bemoaning the lack of a Rosa Parks in the air.

Before at this Web site, we showed that less than two percent of the pilots who fly for the airlines are Black people, despite massive efforts by the Air Force and the airline industry to actively pursue and promote Black people into the highly cognitive field of flying:

“….chart of the number and percent of black pilots at Delta and Northwest. Both airlines ranked at the bottom (Northwest had 58 black pilots or 1.12 percent; and Delta had 92 or 1.22 percent) of that list. By comparison all the other airlines in the chart had higher percentages: American (1.63 percent), Federal Express (2.68 percent), United Parcel Service Inc. (3.88 percent), Continental (3.48 percent), Southwest Airlines (2.18 percent) and United Airlines (3.42 percent).

Delta said in an e-mail that 4.65 percent of its pilots were minorities and women, but it did not break down those numbers.

Beasley said Delta can do better.

“I’m retired from the Air Force,” he said. “There were almost no black pilots when I joined, and the Air Force made an effort for inclusion. If Delta wanted to, it could hire more black pilots.”

The problem of locating Black pilots can be easily rectified by targeting only Black-owned supplier companies or minority-owned firms to provide the parts and supplies necessary to keep the planes in the air:

American Airlines has expanded the diversity and inclusion information on its AA.com Web site, further enhancing the airline industry's most comprehensive online resource for such information.

American's commitment to diversity and inclusion can be explored within the site's "About Us" section, just one click from the home page. There, American provides specifics about its Diversity Leadership Strategy, Supplier Diversity program, Careers, and Awards and Recognition received for its inclusive culture and focus on diversity.

The Employees link leads to an overview of American's 15 Employee Resource Groups, which reflect a variety of communities within American's diverse employee population. Offering cultural guidance, as well as ideas to support the company's business initiatives, two representatives from each of these groups serve on American's Diversity Advisory Council.

"American's dedication to diversity leadership helps us to foster an environment where individuals' experience and perspectives are valued and to ensure that customers and communities receive service delivered by committed, passionate people," said Roger Frizzell, American's Vice President for Corporate Communications and Advertising. "This dedication also supports our ongoing program to identify minority-, women-, LGBT-owned, and small businesses to be considered as potential business partners for American."

All airlines reach out to Black-owned, minority controlled suppliers in a valiant effort to include Black people in the flight process, however minor their contribution. Sadly, this outreach to Black suppliers isn't enough to satisfy the desire for complete control of the skies.

Soul Plane is just a movie. In real life, the airline industry is completely owned by tenets of Black Run America.

The entire industry now mirrors the joke in Soul Plane.

Black pioneers in the flying are the most important aviation feats and moments worthy of commemoration, according to one of the top museums in America.