Janet Bragg lectured throughout the state and volunteered at the Pima Air and Space Museum.
By Jan Cleere Special to the Arizona Daily Star Throughout her life, Janet Bragg experienced prejudice as a black woman.
Working as a nurse in Chicago, Illinois, Janet spent her off hours taking courses in airplane mechanics at Chicago’s Aeronautical University , one of the few schools that admitted black students. “Aviation was not considered to be a suitable pursuit for blacks, who were deemed unable, both mentally and physically, to fly safely,” she said.
Undeterred, she applied to join the Army Nurse Corps but was told the quota for black nurses was filled. She married Sumner Bragg in 1951 and the couple expanded Janet’s nursing home business. “We worked hard and were successful,” Janet said, “but most of all it was enriching.” She served on the board of a celebrity tennis tournament in 1978 with proceeds benefitting the United Negro College Fund. Media personalities who came to Tucson to compete in the week-long event included comedian Redd Foxx as well as actors Sidney Portier and Rita Moreno.
She was instrumental in establishing an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. and was honored at the opening of the exhibit. “Black Wings,” toured the country and made its way to Phoenix in 1990 with Janet its keynote speaker.
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