Léopoldine Doualla-Bell Smith
Léopoldine Doualla-Bell Smith is the world's first black flight attendant.[1] She was born in Cameroon, and was a princess of the royal Douala family of Cameroon.[2] She took her first flight as a flight attendant (with Union Aéromaritime de Transport) in 1957.[1] In 1960 she was invited to move to Air Afrique; she was then the only qualified African person in French aviation, and thus became the first employee hired by Air Afrique.[3] She shortly became Air Afrique's first cabin chief.[3] She flew for twelve years.[2] She was honored at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Black Flight Attendants of America at Los Angeles International Airport’s Flight Path Museum.[2]
References
- ^ a b Thomas, Chandra (2015-03-15). "World's First Black Flight Attendant Honored". NBC News. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
- ^ a b c "World's First Black Flight Attendant, Doualla-Bell Smith, Honored For Opening Skies For Other African-Americans". Atlanta Blackstar. 2015-03-17. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
- ^ a b "Denver Urban Spectrum March 2015 by Denver Urban Spectrum". ISSUU. Retrieved 2015-04-15.