Answer:
The author's purpose was to bring to light the prejudices and racism that plagued American aviation from its early days and how blacks and women never gave up hope.
Explanation:
The author began by talking about how racism and sexism were rife in American aviation. Blacks and women were considered inferior and lacking the necessary ability to fly. It was thought that the white man was superior to all others and had the necessary capacity to fly an airplane just because of their skin color and not because of any other special training.
"Flying, it was said, required a level of skill and courage that women and blacks
lacked. Yet despite these prevailing prejudices, the dream
and the desire to fly stayed alive among women and African-
Americans."
This text evidence summarises the author's thoughts aneand purpose.
