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By Mike Mitchell |
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February 10, 2010
- Continental Airlines named one of its aircraft in honor of its late
Capt. Marlon Green, who won a landmark legal battle to become the first
African American pilot hired by a major
"Capt. Green was a pioneer who was willing to challenge the unacceptable
status quo of the time and paved the way for the most qualified
applicants to be hired, regardless of the color of their skin," said
Jeff Smisek, Continental's chairman, president and chief executive
officer. "His bold actions have helped make Continental what it is
today, a company of great diversity."
Green resigned from the U.S. Air Force in 1957, after nine years and
more than 3,000 hours of flying multi-engine aircraft to apply for a job
with a commercial airline. He was rejected by every airline at which he
applied, including Continental, where he was granted a flight test and
interview only after he declined to note his race on his application. |
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Continental's refusal to hire him while hiring other less qualified
applicants became the basis of his six-year legal challenge that
culminated with a landmark
U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1963, which ensured no applicant for
a pilot's position would be denied a job on the basis of race. Green
finally began flying for Continental in 1965, and he remained with the
company for 14 years until his retirement. He died in 2009, at the age
of 80. Today, thanks in part to Capt. Green's pioneering efforts, Continental's workforce represents a rich diversity of cultures and lifestyles, where ethnic minorities account for more than 40 percent of the domestic workforce. The company's Diversity Council, Supplier Diversity Program, Diversity Awareness Training and Diversity Awareness Events all support a commitment to diversity and inclusion within Continental's long-standing culture of treating each other with dignity and respect. |
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Continental
Airlines is the world's fifth largest airline. Continental, together
with Continental Express and Continental Connection, has more than 2,500
daily departures throughout the Continental consistently earns awards and critical acclaim for both its operation and its corporate culture. For the sixth consecutive year, FORTUNE magazine named Continental the No. 1 World's Most Admired Airline on its 2009, list of World's Most Admired Companies. (For other court cases on airline discrimination see link) |
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