Bessie Coleman

In 1922, a small airplane flew in the shape of an eight high above a New York airfield. Suddenly, the plane shot down toward the ground. Seconds before it would have crashed, the plane swerved back up into the sky.

The brave pilot was Bessie Coleman. She was famous for her daring aerial stunts. But she was an aviation leader in an even bigger way. Coleman was the first Black woman in the United States to get a pilot’s license.

In 1922, a small airplane flew in the shape of an eight high above a New York airfield. Suddenly, the plane shot down toward the ground. Seconds before it would have crashed, the plane swerved back up into the sky.

The brave pilot was Bessie Coleman. She was famous for her daring aerial stunts. But she was an aviation leader in an even bigger way. Coleman was the first Black woman in the United States to get a pilot’s license.

Coleman was born in Texas in 1892. Her father was Black and Native American, and her mother was probably the daughter of enslaved Black parents. Coleman’s poor family picked cotton to earn money.

Dreaming of a better life, Coleman moved to Chicago to live with her older brothers in 1915. Later, her brother John traveled to France. He told Bessie about the female pilots there.

“He kidded her and said, ‘You can’t do that,’” says Russell Lee. He works at the National Air and Space Museum. “She took it as a personal challenge.”

Becoming a pilot wouldn’t be easy. At the time, there were few opportunities for Black people in the U.S.

Coleman was born in Texas in 1892. Her father was Black and Native American. Her mother was probably the daughter of enslaved Black parents. Coleman’s poor family picked cotton to earn money.

Coleman dreamed of a better life. She moved to Chicago to live with her older brothers in 1915. Later, her brother John traveled to France. He told Bessie about the female pilots there.

“He kidded her and said, ‘You can’t do that,’” says Russell Lee. He works at the National Air and Space Museum. “She took it as a personal challenge.”

Becoming a pilot wouldn’t be easy. At the time, there were few opportunities for Black people in the U.S.

Coleman was determined to become a pilot. But she couldn’t find a flight school that would accept a Black woman as a student.

So she moved to France, where she was accepted into flight school. Coleman earned her license in 1921.

She returned to the U.S. with a new dream—to open a flight school for Black women. While she worked toward that goal, Coleman became a barnstormer, a pilot who performs dangerous stunts.

She amazed audiences with tricks like loop-the-loops. She even walked on the wing of a flying plane!

Coleman was determined to become a pilot. But she couldn’t find a flight school that would accept a Black woman as a student.

So she moved to France. There she was accepted into flight school. Coleman earned her license in 1921.

She returned to the U.S. with a new dream. Coleman wanted to open a flight school for Black women. While she worked toward that goal, Coleman became a barnstormer. That is a pilot who performs dangerous stunts.

She amazed audiences with tricks like loop-the-loops. She even walked on the wing of a flying plane!

In 1923, Coleman’s plane crashed. She was badly injured, but she didn’t let that stop her.

“Tell them all that as soon as I can walk I’m going to fly!” Coleman wrote.

Three years later, Coleman was the passenger on another plane that crashed. Sadly, she died.

Although she didn’t live long enough to open her school, Coleman inspired others to become pilots.

In 1923, Coleman’s plane crashed. She was badly injured, but she didn’t let that stop her.

“Tell them all that as soon as I can walk I’m going to fly!” Coleman wrote.

Three years later, Coleman was the passenger on another plane that crashed. Sadly, she died.

Although she didn’t live long enough to open her flight school, Coleman inspired others to become pilots.