Bessie Coleman

by Francesca and Ada

Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman soared across the sky as the first African American, and the first Native American, women pilot. Born in Atlanta Texas, on January 26, 1892, Bessie Coleman had twelve brothers and sisters. Her mother, Susan Colman, was an African American maid, and her father, George Colman, was a Sharecropper of mixed Native Americans and African Americans descent. In 1901, her father decided to move back to Oklahoma to try to escape discrimination. Bessie’s mother decided not to go with him.

At age 23, Coleman went to live with her brothers in Chicago. She went to Burnham School of beauty culture in 1915.

She became a manicurist in a local barbershop. Meanwhile, her brothers served in the military during World War 1 and came home with stories from their time in France. Her brother John teased her because French women could fly planes but Bessie could not. This made Bessie want to be a pilot. By 1977, African American women pilots formed the Bessie Coleman Aviator's Club. Bessie passed away in April 30th 1929 at age 34. In 1995, the “Bessie Coleman stamp”was made in honor of her great accomplishments.