On the 28th of Black History Month, we honor Bessie Coleman, a pioneering American aviator who broke barriers in 1921 by becoming the first African American and Native American woman to earn an international pilot’s license.
Denied entry to U.S. flight schools because of her race and gender, Coleman refused to let discrimination stop her. She taught herself French, traveled to France, and earned her license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. Known as “Queen Bess,” she specialized in stunt flying, performing daring aerial tricks that captivated audiences and inspired countless African Americans to pursue aviation.
Coleman moved to Chicago in 1915, where stories of World War I pilots sparked her passion for flying. With support from Robert Abbott, owner of the Chicago Defender, she saved money and left for Paris on November 20, 1920. She was the only student of color in her class, yet within seven months, she achieved her goal and became an internationally licensed pilot.
Upon returning to the U.S., she dazzled crowds at airshows and gave speeches encouraging other African Americans to fly. She dreamed of opening a flight school for Black pilots, though her life was tragically cut short at just 34 years old, on April 30, 1926, during a rehearsal flight in Jacksonville, Florida.
Coleman’s courage, determination, and groundbreaking achievements paved the way for generations of aviators. In 2023, she was honored in the American Women Quarters Program, her image on a U.S. quarter celebrating her legacy — her face lifted to the sky, her plane soaring above clouds, and the date of her historic pilot’s license engraved below.
Bessie Coleman didn’t just learn to fly — she taught the world how to rise above barriers. 🙌🏽✈️
