First African American Pilot
“The sky is the
only place there is no prejudice. Up there, everyone is equal, everyone is
free.” Elizabeth Coleman
Born
to African American and Native American sharecropper parents in 1892 Texas, Elizabeth,
Bessie, fought for her chance to become an aviator. (video)
In
her twenties, she became interested in flying thanks to WW1 returning soldiers'
heroic stories. In a deeply segregated U.S., she could find no pilot to train her, even those who were black. Her brother, newly returned from war, entertained
her with stories of the many opportunities for women in France, one of which
was pilot training. As this seemed to be
her only hope, she set her sights on France.
Bessie
began her journey by learning French.
Along with her savings and financial backing from the African-American
community, she left for France in 1920. By
1921, she accomplished her goal and became the first American woman who earned
an International Pilot's License—well before Amelia Earhart. Realizing that she needed even more skills to
earn a living flying she continued her studies in France, Holland and
Germany.
With
her extensive training, she finally found work in air shows as a stunt pilot, but
it didn't pay much. One of her biggest
obstacles was that she had no plane of her own, which limited her options. In fact, her next big goal was to open a
flight school that accepts everyone. Not
able to purchase a quality plane, her first crashed resulting in many months of
recuperation.
Once
healed, she returned to performing in-air shows. She also lectured and opened a beauty shop –
she was a trained manicurist – to earn enough to purchase another plane. Unfortunately, someone left a wrench in the
engine causing it to crash during a practice run.
Queen
Bessie, as she was now known, died that day, but her accomplishments continue
to inspire other young women. For example,
Mae Jemison – first black woman
astronaut – stated in her
book, Queen Bess: Daredevil Aviator, "I point to Bessie Coleman and
say without hesitation that here is a woman, a being, who exemplifies and
serves as a model to all humanity: the very definition of strength, dignity,
courage, integrity, and beauty. It looks like a good day for flying.”
Please Read
Black History
Month: General Benjamin O. Davis Jr
Black History
Month: Robert S. Abbott
Women’s
History Month: Annie Bidwell (1839 – 1918)
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