Compton-native, Kenneth Kirkpatrick, better known as “KP”—has actively worked to bring awareness to the flourishing career path of piloting commercial airplanes.
As a United Airline Captain, Kirkpatrick has used his platform to pave a runway for Black youth to take off toward new heights for success in aviation.
The number of Black pilots on duty is drastically outnumbered in comparison to other ethnicities.
A representative from United Airlines shared statistics from the United States Bureau of Labor and the results painted a vivid truth.
Only 3.4% of the nation’s pilots and flight engineers were Black and 94% were White.
Kirkpatrick expressed through his discovery of this viable career—becoming a pilot was not on his radar.
He stated the most challenging part of becoming a pilot was not knowing that it was an option, “Before I got into flying, I didn’t know any pilots—I didn’t know anyone in aviation or anything like that.
I actually kind of fell into it,” said Kirkpatrick. His first time on a plane was when he left for college.
In the earlier stages of planning his life, Kirkpatrick went to the air force academy to play basketball; a familiar way for most Black men to reach a level of success and status.
It was until the end of his sophomore year that he took a soaring program and flying peaked his interest.
In an exclusive interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, the United Airlines captain described the best approach to pursuing this line of work consists of persistence, networking, mentorship, and knowing one’s history.
Kirkpatrick shared his love for the storyline of the Tuskegee airmen, benchmarking the footprint of Black history during the rise of aviation.
Kirkpatrick said, “I watched the original Tuskegee airmen movie…I watched that during pilot training almost every day.”
Kirkpatrick said piloting calls for excellence and to have a love for service. He expressed the severity of handling people’s lives and taking on the responsibility of being prepared.
“The drive for excellence is important, especially when you’re operating an aircraft and we have lives in our hands. We can’t afford to be anything less than 100% and if you’re not pushing yourself to be 100% always than you’re selling yourself short,” Kirkpatrick said.
Part of his process of preparing for a trip is “chair flying,” or visualizing the setting of flying— while on the ground, gearing up to operate the plane.
As he enters the winged vessel, he takes his time to make his piloting announcements in front of the guests, outside the cockpit. He makes comfort a priority while he is in control of the flight.
One of Kirkpatrick’s missions is to bring awareness around the resources that are available to the collective community and his efforts have been matched by the support and participation of the United Airline organization.
Additionally, Kirkpatrick sits on the board of 100 Black Men of America, the Orange County Chapter and he participates in the organization that focuses on Black aerospace professionals; a program that introduces aviation to Black youth.
Inclusion has proven to be a critical component of United Airlines; they consider more than just the trip of their guests; they are looking into ways to support the communities where their travelers live.
Kirkpatrick collaborates with United Airlines’ Aviate program, located in Arizona.
It focuses on educating curious minds that have no previous aviation experience and teaches them how to fly.
Another United Airlines program includes Calibrate, a program that focuses on the maintenance and technicality of fixing planes.
Kirkpatrick shared one of his most inspiring moments was with his son, when Kirkpatrick was able to speak at the Oshkosh conference in Wisconsin; one of the biggest gatherings for aviation—with over 600,000 people in attendance.
Kirkpatrick’s son, Dylan, watched his dad speak and inspire other kids. “He got to watch me interact with other kids, he got to watch me take part in a panel…at the end of the day, he kind of looked at me and he was like, ‘Dad, you’re a pretty cool guy,’” Kirkpatrick said. Dylan is also in the process of being a pilot as well.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, former USC Trojan wide-receiver, ex-Pittsburgh Steelers, and is a Super Bowl Champion. A wideout for the Kansas City Chief’s, Smith-Schuster finished Super Bowl LVII with seven receptions for 53 yards in the win.
He was prominently involved in the controversial holding penalty which put the Chief’s in position to kick the championship winning field goal.
And to his surprise, the win and his play earned him extra pocket money - $1 Million.
“I’m not going to cry right now, but probably when I get home or in the locker room I’ll cry,” Smith-Schuster said. “Honestly, it’s just crazy to come here and play on a one-year deal to chase a Super Bowl ring. I just thank all my coaches and my teammates and everyone around me for making this possible, and obviously the man above.”
Smith-Schuster joined the Kansas City Chief’s on a one-year deal during the free-agent market. With the Chief’s, Smith-Schuster had 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season. He was the Chief’s second-leading receiver behind star tight end Travis Kelce.
Not bad for a young man from the LBC – Long Beach City!
Smith-Schuster battled a knee injury during the middle of the season and struggled during the AFC Championship game. He wasn’t certain that he would play in the big game, but he did.
Smith-Schuster said, “I have always bet on myself,” and that belief ended with him receiving the most coveted hardware in football.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is known to walk to the beat of his own drum, and he does not mince his words. He found himself in a Twitter war with Eagles cornerback James Bradberry on Valentine’s Day when he taunted him over his crucial holding penalty in the Super Bowl.
The mele started with a tweet from Smith-Schuster wishing everyone Happy Valentine’s Day with a heart emoji but the post contained an image of Bradberry with the words: “I’ll hold you when it matters most.” It was Bradberry who drew a holding penalty late in the fourth quarter giving the Chief’s a first down which allowed them to milk the clock before kicking the game winning field goal.
This tweet did not go down well and Eagles all-star wideout A.J. Brown immediately let his displeasure be known tweeting:
First off congratulations. Y’all deserve it. This is lame,” Brown wrote while quote-tweeting Smith-Schuster’s post. “You were on the way out the league before Mahomes resurrected your career on your 1-year deal Tik-Tok boy. He admitted that he grabbed you but don’t act like you're like that or ever was. But congratulations again!”
Bradberry hit back reminding Smith-Schuster that he was in fact “All Pro.” Other players entered the fray with Eagles all pro cornerback Darius Slay calling the tweet “Lame AF.”
And former Chief’s superstar Tyreek Hill weighed in saying that Smith-Schuster is “playing the victim.” Cowboys defensive back Micah Parsons said, "social media has allowed players social media skills be better than their football skills."
This is the same man who believes that the best Philly cheesesteak is not served in Philly.
This is Smith-Schuster, live and unedited, as he stays true to himself, being authentically JuJu.
Amazingly, Smith-Schuster discovered on live TV that he would receive $1 million bonus for his role in the win. During a sit-down with the NFL Network, Smith-Schuster discovered that he earned a bonus that doubled his yearly salary. You got to love it…the bliss of youth.
Smith-Schuster credits his aunt with giving him the moniker ‘JuJu’. He liked it from the very beginning, saying, “It’s a pretty catchy name.” Smith was four years old when his stepfather, Lawrence Schuster came into his life. It was his stepfather that introduced him to football. Smith-Schuster played high school ball at Long Beach Poly, a high school according to the LA Times, that has “produced more NFL players than any school in the United States.”
In 2015, JuJu Smith paid tribute to his stepfather, legally changing his last name to the hyphenated Smith-Schuster.
Initially, JuJu Smith thought he would attend Oregon but surprised his family with his commitment to the school 25 miles from Long Beach, the USC Trojans.
Of his decision, Smith-Schuster said he loved that the school was close to home and his church.
I’m a very strong Christian man, he said. I can go home to church where everybody already knows me.”
As a Trojan, he had 143 catches for 2,178 yards with 15 touchdowns along with 15 kickoff returns for 183 yards. A Pittsburgh Steeler for five seasons, Smith-Schuster had 323 catches for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns.
As a Steeler, he was named to the 2019 Pro Bowl replacing his injured teammate, Antonio Brown.
When asked about his career so far, Smith-Schuster believes that all roads have led to this moment.
“I have played football since I was four years old.
This is a dream come true, it feels unreal to play in the Super Bowl, but dreams really do come true.” And now Smith-Schuster can add Super Bowl winner to his name.
“When the clock hit zero, I was just looking for my family,” Smith-Schuster said. “... Honestly, it’s crazy. It’s wild.”
You may recognize Damani Sease as rapper U-God, in the hit Hulu series, “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.”
Starting as a stunt part for the Wu-Tang series, the actor worked his way up to a regular and series favorite for his first real acting role.
“Wu-Tang: An American Saga” tracks Wu-Tang Clan’s formation and rise to become the unlikeliest of American success stories.
Premiered in 2019, the show tells a fictionalized story of the formation of the hip-hop group and is gearing up to air their third and final season on February 15th.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Watts Times, Damani Sease discussed how he started his rise to stardom, portraying U-God in the show, and even the upcoming series.
Los Angeles Watts Times (LAWT): Have you always had a passion for acting? When did your journey start?
Damani Sease (DS): I always wanted to do something in the entertainment industry, whether that be acting, singing, dancing, or whatever else, but I never really pursued that dream.
I played football and I stuck with It, but skip some years later, I was in high school, got recruited, and went to college [at Lycoming College], and I discovered I’m not really taking this football thing serious.
DS: I used to skip practices, I wouldn’t go a hundred percent at games, and even though I was a talented individual, I just knew I wasn’t passionate about it.
So, I asked myself what did I want to do? I remembered being a kid, thinking about acting, and so I called my parents one night, told them I was going to dropout and pursue acting as a career. Thank God for the parents I have. They supported my dream and said, “If that’s what you want to do go ahead.” I dropped out that same month, and I booked my first co-star. That was a sign from God for me.
LAWT: Tell me about your character, U-God, on “Wu-Tang: An American Saga.”
DS: People know U-God as the quiet one in the group, never getting much of the shine. According to some people, he doesn’t get out too much, but I just feel like he’s unique in his own way. I’m so glad to have the role.
This character feels so much like me in just so many ways. Everybody in the group is known as something and U-God I known for his bass-filled voice that everyone loves. He’s a team player and he’s been through a lot, but he’s always there for his brother, no matter what they’re going through.
LAWT: You said you guys are similar. How so?
DS: When I was doing my research on U-God, watching all his interviews, reading his book, “My Journey into the WuTang,” opened my eyes.
And then after talking to him, we connected right off the bat. I just feel like I’m the younger version of him. It’s hard to prepare for a role for this because it’s such an iconic group, especially him, but it wasn’t too much for me besides studying his voice. But, I’m really much like him in a lot of ways.
LAWT: How did you prepare for this role?
DS: Oh God, a lot of YouTube. I’ve watched every Wu-Tang interview there is on YouTube, studying mannerisms and, like I said before, his voice.
Listening to music, trying to get the cadence down, and I talked to him a lot. I also read his book a couple of times, which really helped me because the book is his life from when he was young to when he got that fame. So, it gave me a lot of information.
LAWT: What does it mean to you to be a part of telling Wu-Tang’s story, as well as the show?
DS: I’m going to say it’s a blessing, but it’s so much more than that. You know, my parents growing up back in this time when Wu-Tang came out, they were fans of Wu-Tang’s music and now their son is playing one of the original members [in the show]. It’s a crazy experience, especially for my first big role. I wouldn’t want anything else.
LAWT: You voiced on how you and U-God are similar, and that there are a lot of rewards, but are there any challenges that come with playing him?
DS: The voice. The voice is always the hardest part. I got to the point where I felt like I was overdoing it, so I’d do little experiments. In season two, I would switch up my voice every now and then to see what the fans would like the most.
I don’t know if anybody peeped that, but it was a risk. I feel like this business is all about taking risk sometimes.
LAWT: Is there any advice you’d give to fans, or young actors, trying to follow in your footsteps?
DS: Don’t follow in my footsteps, definitely follow your own. Just be yourself, have faith, and believe in yourself.
I had so many people tell me I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now.
Don’t listen to them, and always believe in yourself.
The third and final season of “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” premieres on Hulu on February 15. To keep up to date with Damani Sease, check out his Instagram (@damanidsease).
The month of February is dedicated to Black History Month where we honor and pay tribute to those who have made positive contributions to Black history.
Historical figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and many more are often highlighted during this month.
While we pay tribute to those who have fought for Black rights and equality, Black History Month is also devoted to acknowledging Black men and women who are currently impacting society in a positive way.
Kristel Jones, Kendra Settle, and Nicole “Cole” Mitchell are three Black female entrepreneurs from California who are building a foundation that will last a lifetime.
Located inside the Westfield Culver City mall, Uplift Us Marketplace is a Black-owned retail store that sells 100% Black-owned products.
Uplift Us was founded by sisters, Kendra Settle and Kristel Jones, who have been moved by the resilience and adhesiveness of black communities across the nation.
The mission is to celebrate Black culture by offering products created by Black entrepreneurs.
They noticed how difficult it was to find products created by Black businessmen and women and wanted to offer a space that celebrated the creativity of the Black culture.
The goal is to help build small businesses by not only increasing sales, but also creating a space to promote their brands and get their name out there.
When thinking of a name for their store, the word “Uplift” kept coming to mind. This correlated with their goal – to Uplift the community and Black businesses.
“Then the Us came because that is just the Black communities universally understood word of knowing that we are talking about Black people,” Kristel explained. “And of course, marketplace is representative of the collective of businesses and brands.”
The store offers an array of products including clothes, jewelry and accessories, skates, books, games, pet merchandise, hair care, and much more.
Uplift Us Marketplace is located at: 6000 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City CA 90230 on the 2nd floor next to Macy’s.
For more information, visit: https://upliftusmarketplace.com/ or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upliftusmarketplace/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upliftusmarketplace
Urbane Luggage, founded by Nicole “Cole” Mitchell, is the first Black-owned hemp luggage and apparel manufacturing brand in the United States. In 2014, Cole visited Amsterdam where she learned how hemp has the power to replenish our damaged ecosystems throughout its lifecycle.
Cole knew that this information was not taught in our school systems, and was inspired to teach people the benefits of hemp and how to become sustainable travelers. According to Urbane Luggage, the mission is to provide buyers with exclusive products that can help travelers reduce their “carbon footprint by investing in products that benefit the Earth and us.”
These products are the only custom-designed hemp products made in America. Cole’s desire is to reduce the fashion industry’s carbon footprint and leave the next generations with a healthier planet.
Urbane Luggage products are made in the United States and exclusively custom-made to order. Products include face masks, totes, weekender bags, and more. Aside from Urbane Luggage, Cole is also founder of Urbaneprivatelabel.com, a hemp apparel and manufacturing company.
For more information on Urbane Luggage, visit: https://www.urbaneluggage.com/ or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urbaneluggage/