The August Martin Activities Book, published in 1980 by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was created to honor the life and legacy of Captain August Harvey Martin. He was a pioneering aviator whose achievements shattered racial barriers in the history of American aviation.
Early Life and Education
August Harvey Martin was born on August 30, 1919, in Los Angeles, California. From childhood, he showed a strong fascination with airplanes and flight. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, New York, and later attended New York University. His passion for aviation led him to enroll in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, a federal initiative designed to train civilian pilots in preparation for World War II.
Martin later trained at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he became part of the historic Tuskegee Airmen program—the first group of African American military aviators in United States history. His experience there shaped his vision of equality and representation in aviation.
Career and Achievements
In 1955, August Martin made history as the first African American to be hired as a commercial airline pilot when he joined Seaboard World Airlines. He later achieved another milestone by becoming the first African American to captain a U.S.-scheduled commercial air carrier. His professionalism, skill, and determination helped pave the way for future generations of Black pilots.
Outside his career, Captain Martin was deeply committed to mentorship and humanitarian work. He volunteered his time to educate and guide young people—particularly African Americans—who aspired to enter the aviation field. Through his outreach, he became a symbol of perseverance and leadership.
Death and Legacy
Tragically, Captain August Martin’s life ended on July 30, 1968, when his aircraft crashed during a humanitarian mission to deliver relief supplies to Biafra amid the Nigerian Civil War. Poor weather conditions caused the fatal accident, claiming the lives of all onboard.
Despite his untimely death, Martin’s legacy has endured through the decades. In 1971, August Martin High School was established in Jamaica, Queens, New York, in his honor. The institution is one of the few in the United States focused on aviation and aeronautical education, ensuring that his dream of empowering future aviators continues.
Cultural Recognition
The FAA’s August Martin Activities Book (1980) played a vital role in introducing young readers to aviation while celebrating Martin’s historic achievements. Beyond education, it aimed to inspire students of all backgrounds to pursue aviation and overcome social and racial limitations.
Today, his story is preserved in aviation museums, educational institutions, and historical archives across the country. His contributions have been recognized by organizations dedicated to honoring African American pioneers in science, technology, and flight.
Quick Facts
Full Name: August Harvey Martin
Date of Birth: August 30, 1919
Date of Death: July 30, 1968
Nationality: American
Profession: Pilot
Employer: Seaboard World Airlines
Known For: First African American commercial airline pilot and captain of a U.S.-scheduled air carrier
Legacy Institution: August Martin High School, Queens, New York
Cause of Death: Airplane crash during humanitarian mission to Biafra, Nigeria
Sources
1. U.S. Department of Transportation / Federal Aviation Administration. August Martin Activities Book. 1980.
2. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Archives. “Captain August Harvey Martin: Aviation Pioneer.”
Nollywood icon Genevieve Nnaji has fired off a sharp response after a man on X (formerly Twitter) advised Igbo men to stop marrying Igbo women and instead seek wives from other African countries.
The controversy began after a photo of a Rwandan woman said to be engaged to an Anambra man went viral.
Resharing the image, the user wrote, “Dear Igbo men, instead of marrying an Igbo woman who’ll falsely accuse you of r4ping your daughter, better look outside for a wife.
“Go to East Africa, especially Rwanda, and pick a damsel. They’re all over social media, and you can link up with them.”
Genevieve, who rarely comments on online drama, responded, “In other words, instead of checking yourself and taking accountability, go for the unsuspecting and carry on with your evil. Got it.”
Another user attempted to challenge her, claiming the original tweet was aimed at “false rape accusers” and that Genevieve was avoiding the real issue.
“His tweet was clearly against false rape accusers, but instead of holding the evil women accountable and demanding change, you chose to tweet this?”
But the actress hit back with equal clarity: “The same way a woman can’t tell an abusive man apart from a good one is the same way you shouldn’t say avoid all Igbo women. ‘Not all women’.”
Reality TV star Phyna has offered words of encouragement to fellow Big Brother Naija winner Imisi amid a family feud between the latter and her mother.
In an X post on Monday, Phyna wrote,”To Imisi, @imisiofficial and to anyone walking through the same fire… I’m praying for your strength.
“My own experience broke me, but I’m slowly rising.
“And I’m rooting for you with everything in me, don’t handle it like I did, build strong and focus on you baby girl.”
The post comes against the backdrop of a family dispute in which Imisi’s mother accused her daughter of hatred and revealed the poor condition of the home where she currently lives, despite Imisi winning N150 million after her Big Brother victory.
Imisi replied in Yoruba,”This is why Aunty Debola said you should not show your face to the world. I can’t be saying all that now, you are in the midst of people. Just overlook everything and leave social media.
“Don’t worry, I will send you money to rent a new house. I am tired of all this drama. I am still recovering from the stress of Big Brother.
“Should I be facing another stress now? Please forgive me, I am your daughter.”
Recall Imisi’s mother has publicly expressed frustration on social media, saying she does not need her daughter’s money after being sidelined following the win.
She also blamed Imisi for recounting her childhood experiences, which she claims involve untrue allegations of parental neglect and sexual assault.
In a video, she showed the old house she currently resides in, saying she is content with her situation, a revelation that sparked online controversy.
In 2023, after Phyna’s BBNaija win, her father, Felix Otabor, revealed in an interview that he was distressed by his daughter’s actions following her BBNaija win.
Otabor said Phyna had asked him to stop working as a hearse driver and requested that he sell his cars, promising to improve the family’s life.
He said he later struggled financially after selling the vehicles, losing his business momentum and community position, and has not seen his daughter since her victory.
He described feeling sidelined while she enjoyed her wealth.
Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has opened up about her marriage to her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.
It was reports that the embattled wife revealed why their seven-year relationship remained faithful despite his polygamous lifestyle.
In a reply to a comment on her Instagram page, Daniels said that during their years together, Nwoko never slept with other women outside their home because she held him well in the other room.
She wrote: “Yes i think he loved me but a toxic one! Because tell me why a polygamous man forgot what it meant to be in polygamy, except for the media.
“Just because it boosted his ego of being seen with multiple women which is easy by me because anyone that sees a man as an odogwu sees the wife as what? He basically had to beg that he share days at ours and other days with his other wives because they begged for his attention.
“Y’all should pls forget this yeye social media comparison because my ex man never slept outside one day in our 7 years of marriage. You know why? Because as a delta babe, I hold am well for the other room ladies use your skills that’s all men want actually!”
