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Flygirl
by Sherri L. Smith
601314
In Flygirl, Ida Mae Jones dreams of fying airplanes like her father did. During the test to get her license,
however, the instructor fails her, not because she is black but because she is a woman. She later learns about
WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) and hopes to join to help her country in World War II. In order to join,
however, she must pass for white even though she is a light-skinned African-American. She succeeds in
becoming a WASP, but at great risk. Within her black community in Slidell, Louisiana, she is known as Ida
Mae Jones. Within the WASP community, she is nicknamed Jonesy. Use the Venn Diagram below to
compare and contrast her experiences within the differing communities.
Ida Mae Jones
Jonesy the WASP
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Flygirl
by Sherri L. Smith
601314
At the bottom of page 267, Ida Mae Jones thinks, I dont feel Negro any more than I feel white. Im just me.
Ida Mae Jones, and Im blue. Santiago Blue. Take away the uniform and I am really nothing at all. Take away
the wings and Im someone elses. Someones maid, someones daughter, someones sister, and maybe even
someones wife one day. But I cant have one life without giving up the other. I can fy and be with Walt or be with
my family and never fy again. Its not fair. Mama and Jolene tried to warn me. Lies breed lies. If I go with Walt, Ill
have to keep on lying. But I cant imagine going home again, cleaning the Wilsons house for the rest of my days.
That feels like a lie, too.


You be the author. Extend the story. Write what Ida Mae does next. (Use additional paper if you need. )