Description
Bessie Coleman (1892–1926) was an American civil aviator who was the first African American woman to hold a pilot’s license. Born in Atlanta, Texas, Coleman moved to Chicago at the age of 23 to work as a manicurist and support her family.
With the help of a number of individuals, including the Chicago Defender newspaper, Coleman was able to raise enough money to travel to France in 1920 to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. After being denied entry to American flight schools due to her race, Coleman obtained her international pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in France.
Upon her return to the United States, Coleman became a stunt pilot, performing daring aerial maneuvers in front of large crowds at airshows. She also gave lectures and promoted civil aviation among people of color.
Coleman’s career was cut short when she was killed in a plane crash in 1926. She left behind a legacy of courage, determination, and ambition, inspiring generations of pilots, especially African Americans, to become involved in the field of aviation.
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