Many historical figures have made their mark during the 1930s which marked a test of courage, diplomacy,

and political savvy. Roosevelt stands to be the most recognized figured of the 1930s largely due to his role as the US president and several other accomplishments. However, a number of individuals and figures emerged from the shadows to leave their mark on history as influential human beings. What may accompany fame are the joy of being loved, and the agony of being hated. It is not until time has passed that the accomplishments of such individuals are either categorized as revolutionary, or despised as chaotic.

Amelia Earhart was one of the historical figures that arguably played a major role in the Womens Rights Movement; and indubitably has paved the way for women in the military especially the air force.

Amelia Earhart, as her last name would ironically suggest, was the first female pilot to cross the Atlantic in solo flight. She had set various records during her short lived life such as first women to cross the US from coast to coast, and the first women to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross (Sloate, 1990); her soul and heart was one with flight, which is why many have come to know that name Air Heart.

Earhart was born into an era that was mainly dominated by males, and Women were slowly gaining grounds. In 1897, Amelia Earhart was born in Kansas, and spent most of her childhood being an active girl that some writers have classified her as being

a tomboy (Rich, 1989). Her love of the outdoors, seeking adventure, and boundless imagination may have pushed her at an early age to pursue her ultimate dream.

She graduated from high school in 1916, and shortly after Amelia was engaged in nursing duties responding to the flu pandemic. While an exhibition pilot was flying over the area, Earhart was watching from a distance. The pilot dived directly at her and swished by. Earhart notes: I am sure he said to himself, Watch me make them scamper; I did not understand it at the time, but I believe that little red airplane said something to me as it swished by (Earhart, 1937).

From that point, Earhart pursuit of flight grew and in 1922, with a yellow airplane she nicknamed the Canary, Earhart set a record for female pilots flying 14,000 feet. In the summer of 1923, Earhart entered the history books at the 16th female pilot to be licensed by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) (US History.com: Amelia Earhart Aerospace, 1897-1937).

Many have regarded Earhart to be the best female pilot of her time. Her courage, dedication, and upbeat manner have earned her a place in the heart of every American, especially women. Five years after receiving her license, Earhart flew across the Atlantic in 1928; just one year after Charles Lindbergh completed his flight (Rich, 1989). It is plain to see that Earhart was determined to demonstrate the equality of the genders in the flying space.

From that point, the records and achievement kept coming as Earhart proceeded to grow in fame, skills, and self-achievement. She continued to promote aviation and competition, and would do so until her mysterious disappearance in 1937. Earhart was declared dead in absentia, as during her second attempt for the world flight, radio signals were disrupted and she not heard from again.

Despite her disappearance Earhart still remains as a symbol of ingenuity, determination, strength, and perseverance with a specific focus on females. Her disappearance may have limited her achievements that were yet to come; however, it has further fueled the love and respect that her fans, friends, and family held for her. Many people loved Amelia for her personality as well as accomplishments.

It is difficult to think that a group of people may have hated her; yet her actions were promoting change in the socio-cultural segment. She was given females a voice and motive to go out and seize the world. Traditionalist, particularly males, may have disliked her actions and deemed them as inappropriate. Yet the consensus demonstrated that many have regarded her as a hero of flight, including males.

Earhart drew her goals out of personal motivation to reach for the sky. Initially, it does not seem that she was promoting flight, competition, or any of her accomplishments as a motive and a symbol of female power. Rather, by her nature she seeks adventure, and flying provided her the mechanism to be adventurous. Along the way, Earhart may have realized that the path she is currently on is not only an

accomplishment and a tribute to her name, but she is part of something that is bigger than her. Equality between males and females is the moral of Earharts short lived story. She has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that females are able to perform male duties and go beyond expectations.

Her actions may have fueled the way towards the use of females in the upcoming conflicts and Wars undertaken by the U.S (Rich, 1989). Out of Earharts accomplishments a group named the Ninety Nines encompassed female pilots seeking to follow in Earharts steps. Besides being an adrenaline seeker, Earhart was an author of several books that transcribed her feelings and attitudes with flight. Books such as 20 hours and 40 minutes; The Fun of It; and Last flight, journalize Earharts experiences with flight; and such books remain to be the bible of the Ninety Nines (Sloate, 1990).

She has truly accomplished much in under a decade; most individuals achieve only a fraction of her accomplishments in their lifetime, and that is why Earhart remains to be one of the historical figures remembered for her determination and proceeding across the odds.

References

Sloate, Susan. 1990. Amelia Earhart: Challenging the Skies. Google Books. Accessed on November 28, 2011 from http://books.google.com/books?id=uU7uLvfCZPIC&lpg=PT66&ots=jO1djRvzcy&dq=Slo ate%201990%20and%20Earhart&pg=PT66#v=onepage&q&f=false

Rich, Doris. 1989. Amelia Earhart: A Biography. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.

Earhart, Amelia. 1937. Last Flight. Google Books. Accessed November 28, 2011 from http://books.google.com/books/about/Last_flight.html?id=TnQ4AAAAMAAJ