In PART 1 of Anthony's interview, we got a look into his upbringing and hustle: simultaneously working full-time, launching AirOshi, and taking flying lessons.
PART 2 goes deeper into his world of aerobatics. But before we jump in, you have to understand a few things if you're new to this field like me – there are three different types of flying in aerobatics: air racing, air shows and aerobatic competitions. Specifically for the latter, competitors fly three sequences (or routines) in front of judges. A practice day is allotted the day before flying in the actual competition.
• In 2015, Anthony made history and became the first African-American to enter the Reno National Championship Air Race. •
When did you tell yourself, I’m ready to enter a competition?
I couldn’t tell myself that. My mentor told me.
From 2010 to 2013, I was paying him a couple of dollars for gas, to put me in the plane and show me something…I couldn’t really fly with him as much as I wanted to…By 2013, he said ‘you’re safe enough.’ So that was my first competition. I got 3rd place.
How did you feel afterwards? And what led you to your next competition?
I was happy! I came home with a medal and thought ‘This is exactly what I want!’…I’m in control of this three-dimensional aircraft in the air. It was beautiful. It was harmonic. It was intense. When I got out of the cockpit, I was drenched from sweat because you don’t realize how hard your body is working. You gotta focus…
Just pure enjoyment! It was incredibly fun and I wanted to do it again! So the next year in 2014, I went to the U.S. National Aerobatic Championship. Out of 9 or 10 people in the nation in that category, I placed 4th. I was in first place, but in the last flight, I messed up a maneuver, so I got scored low. In 2015, I did well…
In 2015, you made history and became the first African-American to enter the Reno National Championship Air Race and have a podium finish. Tell me about that experience.
I bought my own race plane March 2015 and in June I went to qualify at Reno, Nevada. It was fantastic!
They invite you out to the qualification camp, which makes you a bit nervous because if you don’t do well, they send you home…They’d have a guy standing on the airport ramp, and they would have you flying about 500 feet above the ground, and they’d ask you to execute a few maneuvers. And if you’re not aerobatic savvy, you fail and are asked to go home, no matter how far you came from…London, New York…if you pass the test, they clear you on the track for the next day. So then you’re flying 50 feet above the ground and flying this course to see how you fair.
So going to the actual Reno Races and placing 2nd in the world, that was really amazing! I wasn’t expecting any of that. I didn’t know I was going to get a medal for that. They gave me a trophy and a check! 2016, I did the same thing, and placed 2nd again.
As an aerobatic pilot, how do you press forward knowing you don’t have a person that looks like you, that is doing aerobatic competitions?
It’s humbling. It’s new, unchartered territory. I have people calling and writing me letters, so I’m making an impact out there to many of the other African-American youth that have seen me or heard of me. But it’s tough because…I’m in a very unique position.
I just received a call from the Texas State Hall of Fame, and they want to induct me into their hall of fame. There are three prerequisites: have a significant contribution in the aviation community, birthed in Texas, and have to be a pilot…
At first I thought it was a joke, so my next question was, ‘who else is in it? Send me a link.’ I looked and people like George Bush, Betsy Coleman, Apollo spaceship pilots are in there…I was like ‘Yes, put me in that!’ [laughter]
• "All the sponsors I’ve gotten…I went out there, either cold called them or knocked on doors; emailed them every month. I was after them." •
- Anthony on how he got his sponsors
You mentioned that you’re in a very tough position. Why is that?
I’m in a difficult place in regards to my image. I’m comfortable in who I am, but I have to be careful because of my impact. When you’re the first to do anything, it could be really good or really bad.
For instance, when I go to these schools to talk to kids…like this school in Texas, wanted me to talk to Black students…the first thing I told them was: ‘Look you guys. I’m doing these amazing things. And you can do these things too, but don’t let me be your only mentor. Your mentor can be White, Mexican, from any background…you can do anything you want to do, that anyone else is doing.’
Is it safe to say that you consider yourself a role model?
Yea. I believe myself as a role model to the youth…I gotta be careful of what I say, who I talk to since there are many watchful eyes. If I want to go have fun, my friends and I usually travel to private destinations to act a fool. [laughter]
How has your family handled your pretty dramatic profession?
I’m the oldest, so my brother and sisters are impressed. I motivate them a lot, but the funny thing about it is that they motivate me. My brother went to Berkeley, double majored in law and biology…that’s amazing! And he’s athletic, very personable. Then my other brother is an engineer. And then my sisters: one has a degree in political science, so she’s a lawyer in Los Angeles. And my younger sister went to UCLA and wants to be a doctor. So they inspire me. I’m gonna need a lawyer one of these days. [laughter]
My dad has come out to a couple of competitions and he enjoys it. My mom hasn’t been, but she’s really, really supportive. She wants me to be safe.
What can we expect from you in 2017?
My sponsors want me to place 1st in the Reno Race. I’m like: ‘I need a new plane, something faster!’
I hope someone hears my story, is inspired by it, and says ‘you know what? Stop everything you’re doing, just focus on your goals. Because what you’re doing is impacting the youth, you’re flying, cool to talk to, helping your community, doing air shows.’ I recently hired a marketing and PR professional, Sarah. I have so much on my plate right now, so it’s really hard to intensify my focus in one area because I'll lose focus in another…so I started giving a lot of stuff to Sara.
How did you get your original sponsors?
Aviation is expensive. What are the top five things I need in aviation? Gas, oil, a flight suit, fire deterrent (fireproof) flight suit, fire deterrent shoes, a helmet, gloves. So I put a list together, found all the corresponding sponsors, and contacted the marketing directors of those companies and pitched them…
All the sponsors I’ve gotten…I went out there, either cold called them or knocked on doors; emailed them every month. I was after them.
I know that your ultimate goal is to get sponsored by Red Bull. Aside from your performances, how do you plan on getting their attention?
My strategy is to email them on a monthly basis and stay persistent. The emails are very short and summarize what happens within the month. If they don’t bite, they don’t bite, but at least they know who I am…
Are you also going to participate in Reno again?
Yes, in September. My September is going to be jam packed.
As of today, I’m the only African-American pilot that’s flying right now [in aerobatic racing] and making history. But I want there to be more African-Americans to be aerobatic pilots. I don’t want to be the only one. I want to be known as the first African-American aerobatic pilot, but I don’t want to be the only one ever…come on Black people, jump in. [laughter]
What role do you think your cultural identity has played in shaping who you are?
It has definitely been everything. Without my cultural identity, I think I’d be no one…Maybe it’s me talking smack or me being more proud than I should be, but I’m so proud that I know who I am; that I know where it all started. So when people say ‘what are you?’ [In a Nigerian accent]…I am the true son of my father. I’ve been kissed by the sun. I am the elephant rider. I am the prince of a pharaoh. It just rolls off of my tongue. So when you say, how has culture shaped me? It has done it’s job. I’m whole...there’s no ambiguity. It’s absolute. This is who I am. This is where I come from. Was that a good answer? [laughter]
Yes! [laughter] So what advice would you give to anyone who may be struggling with their cultural identity?
Listen. Go home!
Let’s say your half Black, half White. You know your home is in Africa; trace back where you came from, put a backpack on your back and go find out where your ancestors came from. Live in that city or live in that village. Soak up the knowledge, understand the culture. Fly out there…
Or if you’re third generation…Costa Rican or Venezuelan [or any other heritage]. Go back, go back, go back! Understand where you come from. Speak to the citizens and understand their life. Once you get privy to that, you’ll be connected.
There’s times when I fly back home and mannnn…it’s a big difference. If you’ve never been there, it’ll shock you to the core. If you go out there with intention and purpose, it’s going to be fulfilling. Nothing is easy, sweet or beautiful…it’s as beautiful as you see it to be.
That’s the first thing that came to mind – go back home. The second thing I would do is the ancestry test where they can trace your lineage. From that, you have a map. From that map, you can choose which road you want to go down…
What advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?
I would say, ‘everyone lives their world through their own eyes. So don’t take what people say literally’…[for example:] if someone is racist, or doesn’t understand the color of your skin – ‘why are you so dark?’ – stuff to that notion.
Because I’m looking back at my life and it was super hard, but it’s built me into who I am today. I wouldn’t change that aspect, but I would change my views…I assumed when I was talking to people, their glasses were as clear as mine. When in fact, their glasses were foggy, so they couldn’t see. And I didn’t know that, so when they called me ‘darkie,’ I didn’t get it. I struggled with that.
And trust myself. There are times when your intuition says do it, and then your conscious mind takes over and messes everything up. If your mind says ‘go,’ just go! Don’t worry about how it will all come together because it will in the end.
• • •
- Images courtesy of Anthony Oshinuga.
- This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.