Flying in Style has a new definition and it’s called Mr. Barrington Irving
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you have, what you don’t have. The only thing that matters is that you set a goal and you just dream, live, and fly.” – Barrington Irving
A few years ago, I came across an interview with Mr. Irving on Karen’s Hunter show on Sirius Satellite Radio radio and his story was very intriguing. But, as you know, as times goes on we all tend to forget things. Well, just this week, I heard his story once again on Sirius Satellite radio, where he was speaking with Mr. Godfrey.
The reason why we decided to profile Mr. Barrington is that he embodies the mission at Ebony Do – “…to present material that cultivates integrity, pride, dignity, and overall gentlemanly conduct in the community.”
Top 4 takeaways we want you to understand about Mr. Irving
Point #1
Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Miami, Florida, he became the youngest person to pilot a plane around the world solo in 2007. He is also the first black person and first Jamaican to accomplish this feat—in a plane he built himself.
Point #2
Gained an interest in flying after speaking to an airline pilot, who provided him the opportunity to sit inside the cockpit of an airplane and go flying with him. As you can imagine, this type of mentorship has such a positive effect on the young youth of today. I’ve always been an advocate of “hands-on” experience. It makes the world of a difference.
Point #3
Created a nonprofit organization, Experience Aviation, to provide kids some “hands-on” experience building airplanes, learning about aviation and curtailing that experience into helping them to understand the benefits of math and science.
Point #4
This last point, I will never forget. I literally was choked up after the interview last year when Mr. Irving said he knew Trayvon Martin and piloting was one of Mr. Martin’s passion. I recall re-telling it to my colleagues with anger.
It’s appropriate that we share a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that is fitting for this posting, as well as for the current political environment we’re witnessing every day.
“We must all learn to live together as brothers or we will all perish together as fools. We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality and whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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In closing, “flying is style” is a term mostly correlated with First Class, Private Jets or nice clothes, as we present in most of our articles. However, in regard to this article, it’s centered around reaching back into the community and inspiring others through creative ways of learning. Mr. Irving, you are our hero and we salute you on this MLK holiday weekend.
Keep flying high brother, you’re an inspiration to us all.