Black History Month: African American contributions to transportation highlighted

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has produced a important webpage looking at the contributions of African Americans to transportation.

The Association’s site features biographies, photos and the compelling stories of pioneers who played key roles in the development of transportation in the United States.

Among those featured:

• Guion Bluford became the first African American to fly into space when he went into orbit on board the Space Shuttle Challenger.
• In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Rodney E. Slater as administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This appointment made Slater the first African American to serve in that role. He remained FHWA administrator until 1997, when Clinton appointed him to serve as U.S. secretary of transportation.
• Numerous Juneteenth festivities throughout the years involved transportation. Quite a few people, wearing their finest clothes, would travel to those celebrations in horse-drawn vehicles that were elegantly decorated with flowers.

The organization also has produced a video highlighting achievements. The U.S. DOT has also produced a video recognizing African American transportation innovators.