Known as “Brave Bessie” and “Queen Bess,” Bessie Coleman’s name remains etched in aviation history nearly a century after her passing. She shattered racial and gender barriers to become the first African American woman in the world to earn a pilot’s license, capturing the nation’s imagination with her daring aerial feats in the early 1920s. Though her life was tragically cut short, her legacy continues to inspire generations of Black aviators.
A Humble Beginning
Born in a small cabin in Atlanta, Texas, on January 26, 1892, Bessie Coleman was the daughter of a Black mother and a father of African American and Native American descent. When she was nine, her father left for Oklahoma, leaving her mother to raise the family in Waxahachie, Texas. From a young age, Bessie took on responsibilities beyond her years, helping raise her siblings and working in cotton fields to support her family.
Education was a challenge. Attending a one-room schoolhouse four miles away, she often lacked basic supplies like paper and pencils. Yet, she pursued knowledge with determination, borrowing books from a traveling library and eventually saving enough money from laundry work to briefly attend what is now Langston University. Financial constraints forced her to return home, but she refused to let her dreams fade.
A Dream Takes Flight
In 1915, Coleman moved to Chicago, seeking better opportunities. She worked as a manicurist at the White Sox Barber Shop and managed a chili parlor while living with her two brothers, both World War I veterans. Her brother John often teased her about how French women could fly airplanes, a privilege denied to Black women in America. Rather than take offense, Bessie saw it as a challenge.
Aviation had only recently taken off—just over a decade after the Wright Brothers’ historic flight—but opportunities for Black pilots were non-existent. U.S. flight schools rejected her applications due to both her race and gender. Determined to break through, she turned to Robert Abbott, founder of The Chicago Defender, a leading Black newspaper. Abbott encouraged her to pursue training in France, where racial barriers were less rigid.
Coleman worked tirelessly, studying French at night while saving money for tuition. With financial support from Abbott and other Black entrepreneurs, she set sail for France in November 1920, determined to turn her dream into reality.
Earning Her Wings
Coleman faced many challenges in France. She was the only Black student at her flight school and walked nine miles each day to attend classes. She also witnessed the tragic death of a fellow student in a crash. Yet, she persevered. On June 15, 1921, she made history by earning her pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, becoming the first African American woman to achieve this feat.
After further training in Paris, she returned to the U.S. in September 1921 to great fanfare. While mainstream media saw her as a novelty, Black newspapers celebrated her as a symbol of progress and resilience. She quickly became a sought-after speaker and performer, captivating audiences with her vision of opening a flight school for Black aviators.
Soaring to Fame
Determined to master stunt flying, Coleman returned to Europe in 1922 for advanced training. She studied with some of the best pilots in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, even meeting aircraft designer Anthony Fokker. When she returned to the U.S., she made her airshow debut on September 3, 1922, at Glenn Curtiss Field in New York, dazzling a crowd of thousands.
Coleman became a national sensation, performing breathtaking aerial stunts at events across the country. In her hometown of Chicago, she wowed an audience of 2,000, including her family. She refused to perform at segregated events unless organizers agreed to a single entrance for all attendees. Though she won that battle, segregated seating remained, highlighting the racial injustices she continually faced.
Triumphs and Tragedy
Despite her rising fame, Coleman struggled financially. Aviation was an expensive pursuit, and sponsorship opportunities were scarce for a Black woman in the 1920s. She often rented or borrowed planes, and in February 1923, disaster struck when her aircraft stalled mid-flight and crashed, leaving her with broken ribs and a fractured leg. Undeterred, she returned to the skies later that year, performing in Houston in 1925, where she thrilled audiences with daring barrel rolls and loops.
She also used her platform to inspire the next generation of Black pilots. When not flying, she gave lectures in Black churches and schools, urging young African Americans to pursue careers in aviation. She was committed to building a flight school, but financial struggles continued to hinder her progress.
A Life Cut Short
On April 30, 1926, the day before an airshow in Jacksonville, Florida, Coleman took a test flight with her mechanic, William Wills. As she scouted the area for a planned parachute jump, the aircraft suddenly spiraled out of control. Without a seatbelt, Coleman was ejected from the plane and fell to her death. Wills also perished when the plane crashed. Investigators later found a wrench had jammed the engine, causing the fatal accident.
Coleman was laid to rest at Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago, her legacy forever cemented in history. Though her dream of opening a flight school never materialized in her lifetime, it became a reality in 1929 when the Bessie Coleman Aero Club was founded in her honor.
A Legacy That Lives On
Nearly a century later, Coleman’s influence continues to soar. Her name graces streets, schools, and libraries worldwide, from Chicago to Paris. The U.S. Postal Service honored her with a stamp in 1995, and in 2023, she was featured on a commemorative quarter. The annual tradition of Black pilots dropping flowers over her grave remains a testament to her enduring impact.
William Powell, a Black aviator inspired by Coleman, captured her legacy best in 1934: “Because of Bessie Coleman, we have overcome that which was worse than racial barriers. We have overcome the barriers within ourselves and dared to dream.”
Original reporting by: Tom Emery | Freelance writer