Ruth Carol Taylor facts for kids

Ruth Carol Taylor was born on December 27, 1931. She made history as the very first African-American flight attendant in the United States. Her first flight happened in 1958. She flew with Mohawk Airlines from Ithaca to New York City.

Early Life and Education

Ruth Carol Taylor was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her family had a mix of Black, White, and Cherokee heritage. Her mother, Ruth Irene Powell Taylor, was a nurse. Her father, William Edison Taylor, was a barber. When Ruth was young, her family moved to a farm in upstate New York.

Ruth went to Elmira College. She later became a registered nurse. She graduated from the Bellevue School of Nursing in New York City.

A Trailblazing Career

Ruth Carol Taylor was hired in December 1957. On February 11, 1958, she worked her first flight. This was a Mohawk Airlines flight from Ithaca to New York. This made her the first African-American person to work as a flight attendant in the United States.

However, she worked for less than six months. Mohawk Airlines had a rule at the time. It was called a "marriage ban." This rule meant that flight attendants could not be married. If they got married, they would lose their job. This rule was common for many airlines back then.

After her time as a flight attendant, Ruth continued to be active. She helped cover the important 1963 March on Washington. She also became an activist for consumer rights. This means she worked to protect people who buy goods and services. She also fought for women's rights.

In 1985, she wrote a book. It was called The Little Black Book: Black Male Survival in America. The book aimed to help Black African-American males. It talked about the challenges they faced due to unfair treatment in the United States.

In 2008, the New York State Assembly officially honored her. This was 50 years after her historic first flight. They recognized her important achievements.

See also

• Patricia Banks Edmiston