<strong>Starting a journey:</strong> In the summer of 1969, 20-year-old Sheila Nutt was selected to be one of the first Black flight attendants on Pan American World Airways. Nutt was a former Miss Philadelphia pageant runner-up, who heard the airlines were hiring while competing in the pageant.
Starting a journey: In the summer of 1969, 20-year-old Sheila Nutt was selected to be one of the first Black flight attendants on Pan American World Airways. Nutt was a former Miss Philadelphia pageant runner-up, who heard the airlines were hiring while competing in the pageant.
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<strong>Getting the job: </strong>Nutt recalls being one of the only Black women at the interview. Two weeks later, Nutt received a telegram informing her she was in, pending training and a medical exam. "I screamed and hollered, and I said, 'Oh, my goodness!' and my mother thought that something bad had happened," recalls Nutt.
Getting the job: Nutt recalls being one of the only Black women at the interview. Two weeks later, Nutt received a telegram informing her she was in, pending training and a medical exam. "I screamed and hollered, and I said, 'Oh, my goodness!' and my mother thought that something bad had happened," recalls Nutt.
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<strong>Exciting prospect:</strong> Nutt was thrilled at the prospect of traveling the world with Pan Am. "At 21, you have no fear," she says. "It was just excitement."
Exciting prospect: Nutt was thrilled at the prospect of traveling the world with Pan Am. "At 21, you have no fear," she says. "It was just excitement."
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<strong>Training school:</strong> Nutt began training in Miami in January 1970. She was valedictorian of her training school class. "Over 50 years later, we communicate, we share our stories," says Nutt of her classmates. "I'm very happy to have encountered these women. It was a very valuable learning experience for all of us, because many of my classmates had never seen an African American in person."
Training school: Nutt began training in Miami in January 1970. She was valedictorian of her training school class. "Over 50 years later, we communicate, we share our stories," says Nutt of her classmates. "I'm very happy to have encountered these women. It was a very valuable learning experience for all of us, because many of my classmates had never seen an African American in person."
Philip Keith for CNN
<strong>Flying career: </strong>Nutt started flying for Pan Am out of Miami. "I was among the first to fly on the Boeing 747, so that was my favorite airplane -- perhaps you know that it held more than 400 people at a time. And it was in the vanguard of aviation history back in the 1970s," she recalls.
Flying career: Nutt started flying for Pan Am out of Miami. "I was among the first to fly on the Boeing 747, so that was my favorite airplane -- perhaps you know that it held more than 400 people at a time. And it was in the vanguard of aviation history back in the 1970s," she recalls.
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<strong>American ambassador:</strong> After six months working for Pan Am, Nutt became a purser, and later a stewardess manager. Nutt says she was proud to be a Black ambassador for Pan Am, and for the US more broadly. "We were the de facto ambassadors of America at that time. When people got on the airplane, that's what they saw."
American ambassador: After six months working for Pan Am, Nutt became a purser, and later a stewardess manager. Nutt says she was proud to be a Black ambassador for Pan Am, and for the US more broadly. "We were the de facto ambassadors of America at that time. When people got on the airplane, that's what they saw."
Philip Keith for CNN
<strong>Distinguished career</strong>: Later in her career, Nutt received a doctorate from Boston University, writing a dissertation on flight attendants and stress. She also gained a Master's degree from Harvard, and later worked as the Director of Educational Outreach Programs at Harvard Medical School, a job she retired from in 2020.
Distinguished career: Later in her career, Nutt received a doctorate from Boston University, writing a dissertation on flight attendants and stress. She also gained a Master's degree from Harvard, and later worked as the Director of Educational Outreach Programs at Harvard Medical School, a job she retired from in 2020.
Philip Keith for CNN