102 years ago, on June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman achieved a significant milestone as the FIRST Black woman in history to earn a pilot's license, 2 years before Amelia Earhart. With great courage and determination, “Brave Bessie,” as she would later be called, pursued her own path, striving always to fulfill her mother's aspiration for her children to “amount to something.”
1/8
#BlackHistory @[email protected] @BlackMastodon #BlackMastodon #histodons #History #Aviation
Born 1892 in Texas, Bessie faced challenges of racism and sexism that were prevalent at the time. In 1920, living in segregated Chicago and working as a manicurist, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot. Despite being denied instruction by white pilots, she sought advice from Robert Abbot, publisher of the Chicago Defender. Abbot suggested she get trained in France, where Black people had more opportunities.
2/8
Bessie Coleman enrolled in the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation in France, earning her pilot's license on June 15, 1921. She became the first African American woman to receive a pilot's license, breaking barriers in both race and gender. Bessie recognized the need for further training to perform stunts and open her own flight school. She returned to Europe, training in France and Germany, flying alongside experienced pilots.
3/8
Back in the United States, Bessie made her first public flight in September 1922 on Long Island, New York, followed by exhibitions in Memphis and Chicago. Despite facing obstacles, Coleman's barnstorming shows and speaking engagements drew large integrated crowds, with Black audiences offering support and hospitality.
4/8
Tragically, on April 30, 1926, during a practice flight in Florida, Bessie Coleman's plane went into a nosedive and crashed, resulting in her and her pilot’s death. The cause: a stuck leftover wrench. The Black community deeply mourned her loss, but her legacy endured.
5/8
Throughout the 1930s, organizations like the Challenger Air Pilots Association held annual memorial events, and individuals like William Powell continued her cause by establishing the Bessie Coleman Aero Flying Club and promoting aviation as a pathway to integration. Over the years, numerous clubs, organizations, and scholarships have honored Bessie's legacy and worked towards equality in aviation and aerospace.
6/8
Although Bessie didn't live to fulfill her dream of opening a flight school, her determination and resilience inspired others to pursue their aspirations. Her remarkable journey not only challenged the prejudices of the time but also paved the way for future generations of aviators, leaving a lasting impact on the history of aviation.
7/8
Elizabeth Bessie Coleman was truly a remarkable human being.
Resources
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/bessie-coleman
https://www.biography.com/history-culture/bessie-coleman
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/flygirls-bessie-coleman/
https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/bessie-coleman
https://www.cradleofaviation.org/history/history/women-in-aviation/bessie-coleman.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/11/obituaries/bessie-coleman-overlooked.html
https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/bessie-coleman/
8/8
@Deglassco We named a mountain on Pluto after her, next to one named after Sally Ride.
More than 60 years after Bessie Coleman broke the bonds of terra firma to become the first African American woman and Native American to earn a pilot’s license, Sally Ride blasted off aboard shuttle Challenger to become the first American woman in space.
Dr. D. Elisabeth Glassco
simonbp