Congratulations are in order for 17-year-old Kamora Freeland of Staten Island. The teen made history last month by becoming one of the youngest African American licensed pilots in the country.
“I have a passion for it and I love it,” Freeland said in an interview with WABC of flying.
The Kingsborough Early College High School senior first had to pass her solo, and cross-country flights. To do so, the honors student took her mother, Lakema Freeland, to Martha’s Vineyard last summer.
“She flew me, and I enjoyed it, and she really did it,” Freeland’s mother told the outlet. “ I couldn’t believe that she was the pilot of the of the plane that I was sitting in the back of.
To see her make family history, Freeland’s sister, Mariama Toe-Freeland, traveled all the way to Staten Island to witness the magical moment for herself.
“I live in Atlanta, and I came to see it,” she said. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
In addition to her mother and sister, Freeland had her father and grandfather in attendance for her big moment.
“I earned my pilot license before I got a driver’s license,” Kamora told The New York Post with a laugh in an interview.
Freeland always aimed for a career in Marine Biology, but that changed after her first flight lesson in 2021 at the age of 15. “I never wanted to be a pilot, but after my first flight, I was like, ‘Wow! I could do this for a living.’”
Now, with her sights set on attending Spelman College in the fall where she will study economics on a full presidential scholarship. Yet, Kamora isn’t quite yet giving up flying. The amazing teen plans to obtain her commercial pilot’s license so that she can be “… a part of the change that’s definitely needed, and I want other little Black girls to do the same.” If you are interested in helping Kamora achieve her goal, take a look at her GoFoundMe. Kamora would unquestionably appreciate your support as she sets forth to “break barriers”.
According to sistersoftheskies.org, 5% of flight captains are women. Less than 1% of those pilots are Black women.
Photo: WABC, CNN via CNN Newsource; @united_youth_aviators; @travelnoire
