People of Achievement : Bessie Coleman

To become the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license, Bessie Coleman  (1892? -1926)  had to leave the United States. Here are ten (plus one!)  facts about her.   

She learned to read and write by reciting from the Bible each evening.

She was inspired by the story of the Wright Brothers and first American female pilot, Harriet Quimby .

Because in the United States a woman of color was not allowed to learn how to pilot a plane, she learned how to do so in France.

Before she could embark on her journey however, she learned how to speak French.

In 1921, Bessie received an international pilot's license, becoming the first African American woman to do so, from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale.

She was known around the world as a stunt pilot and was nicknamed  ”Brave Bessie”.

Her goal was to open a flight school so that young African Americans could have the opportunity she had been denied. She died in an accident while preparing for a stunt show before her dream could be realized.

She flew Army surplus during WWI.

The drive into O'Hare International Airport's International Terminal 5 was named after Bessie Coleman.

To earn money, Bessie Coleman gave speeches and showed films of her flights.

  Plus One: 

Each year on the anniversary of Coleman’s death, pilots from the Bessie Coleman Aviators Club, Chicago American Pilots Association, and the Negro Airmen International fly over her grave in Chicago and drop flowers in honor of her life.