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Home • Relationships

Do Right Men 2007: Barrington Irving

Barrington Irving HOME BASE: Miami, Florida PROFESSION: Pilot DOING RIGHT: In June, the senior aerospace major at Florida Memorial University completed a feat that no other Black man has ever done: becoming the first Black man and youngest male ever to fly around the world solo. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also taken flight for a cause—Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he started that encourages kids to seek careers in aerospace. "We're in need of better minority representation among pilots and air traffic controllers," he says. "I started this organization to help address the shortage and introduce the industry to our kids who are missing out on opportunities to work in a wonderful industry that could enhance the quality of their lives."
By Essence · Updated October 30, 2020
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01
Barrington Irving

HOME BASE: Miami, Florida
PROFESSION: Pilot
DOING RIGHT: In June, the senior aerospace major at Florida Memorial University completed a feat that no other Black man has ever done: becoming the first Black man and youngest male ever to fly around the world solo. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also taken flight for a cause—Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he started that encourages kids to seek careers in aerospace. “We’re in need of better minority representation among pilots and air traffic controllers,” he says. “I started this organization to help address the shortage and introduce the industry to our kids who are missing out on opportunities to work in a wonderful industry that could enhance the quality of their lives.”

Do Right Men 2007: Barrington Irving
02
Barrington Irving

HOME BASE: Miami, Florida
PROFESSION: Pilot
DOING RIGHT: In June, the senior aerospace major at Florida Memorial University completed a feat that no other Black man has ever done: becoming the first Black man and youngest male ever to fly around the world solo. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also taken flight for a cause—Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he started that encourages kids to seek careers in aerospace. “We’re in need of better minority representation among pilots and air traffic controllers,” he says. “I started this organization to help address the shortage and introduce the industry to our kids who are missing out on opportunities to work in a wonderful industry that could enhance the quality of their lives.”

Do Right Men 2007: Barrington Irving
03
Barrington Irving

HOME BASE: Miami, Florida
PROFESSION: Pilot
DOING RIGHT: In June, the senior aerospace major at Florida Memorial University completed a feat that no other Black man has ever done: becoming the first Black man and youngest male ever to fly around the world solo. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also taken flight for a cause—Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he started that encourages kids to seek careers in aerospace. “We’re in need of better minority representation among pilots and air traffic controllers,” he says. “I started this organization to help address the shortage and introduce the industry to our kids who are missing out on opportunities to work in a wonderful industry that could enhance the quality of their lives.”

Do Right Men 2007: Barrington Irving
04
Barrington Irving

HOME BASE: Miami, Florida
PROFESSION: Pilot
DOING RIGHT: In June, the senior aerospace major at Florida Memorial University completed a feat that no other Black man has ever done: becoming the first Black man and youngest male ever to fly around the world solo. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also taken flight for a cause—Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he started that encourages kids to seek careers in aerospace. “We’re in need of better minority representation among pilots and air traffic controllers,” he says. “I started this organization to help address the shortage and introduce the industry to our kids who are missing out on opportunities to work in a wonderful industry that could enhance the quality of their lives.”

Do Right Men 2007: Barrington Irving
05
Barrington Irving

HOME BASE: Miami, Florida
PROFESSION: Pilot
DOING RIGHT: In June, the senior aerospace major at Florida Memorial University completed a feat that no other Black man has ever done: becoming the first Black man and youngest male ever to fly around the world solo. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also taken flight for a cause—Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he started that encourages kids to seek careers in aerospace. “We’re in need of better minority representation among pilots and air traffic controllers,” he says. “I started this organization to help address the shortage and introduce the industry to our kids who are missing out on opportunities to work in a wonderful industry that could enhance the quality of their lives.”

Do Right Men 2007: Barrington Irving
06
Barrington Irving

HOME BASE: Miami, Florida
PROFESSION: Pilot
DOING RIGHT: In June, the senior aerospace major at Florida Memorial University completed a feat that no other Black man has ever done: becoming the first Black man and youngest male ever to fly around the world solo. The Kingston, Jamaica native has also taken flight for a cause—Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he started that encourages kids to seek careers in aerospace. “We’re in need of better minority representation among pilots and air traffic controllers,” he says. “I started this organization to help address the shortage and introduce the industry to our kids who are missing out on opportunities to work in a wonderful industry that could enhance the quality of their lives.”

Do Right Men 2007: Barrington Irving