Were the Wright Brothers really biracial?
Not according to this interesting report from the Hampton Roads TV station, WTKR, on March 11, 2006, which credits the Smithsonian Institute for the “Not” .(All links, including one to the video version of the television report, are at the end of this answer.) From WTKR, here’s the scoop: “So, you think you know who the Wright Brothers were? An Elizabeth City family thought they did too, until their son’s history teacher told them Orville and Wilbur were bi-racial. Beverly Pritchett says her son is fascinated by the Wright Brothers, right down to the model of the Wright Flyer in his room. But when 11-year-old Dylan Pritchett chose to do his Black History Month report on Wilbur and Orville, based on names provided by his history teacher, Dylan’s mother was surprised. Beverly thought she was about to learn a forgotten chapter in American history–until she did the research. “Nothing close to mixed or bi-racial or anything,” said Pritchett. Beverly called the teacher, Sheila Wilkens, who
