Her Story: Bessie Coleman

Georgia as Bessie Coleman for Black Women's History Month

Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) was the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license.

Every flying school that Colman approached in America refuse to enroll her as a student because she was Black and a woman. She wouldn’t take ‘no’ for answer. She learned French and on November 20, 1920, she moved from New York to Paris in order to pursue her dream of flying.

On June 1921 she received an international pilots license from the Federation Aeronautic International, she was the first licensed African-American pilot in the world.

After receiving a pilot’s license she performed stunts at airshows throughout the nation but only excepted offers to perform for shows that were disaggregated. She dazzled the crowds with her stunts and refused to be kept down by racism.

Bessie Coleman Blazed a trail through new territory for women, she is a hero of early aviation and inspiration to young women everywhere.

Sources:

Bessie Coleman – Biography

Read More About This Project: Her Story: Honoring Women, Empowering Girls

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About The Author


shaunaupp

Mother, Photographer, Wisecracker.... not necessarily in that order.

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