Bessie Coleman
America ’s First Licensed Female African-American
Bessie Coleman was born to a poor Texas family in 1892. She read in newspapers and magazines about the exploits of the American pilots during WWI. She dreamed about being a pilot. Two serious obstacles stood in the way of making her dream come true: (1) she was an African American and (2) she was a woman. She learned that in Europe, especially France , had a more liberal attitude about allowing women to fly. To earn money for a boat trip to France , she became manicurist and beautician. She also learned the French language. Eventually, she had enough money to make the trip and enroll in a French flying school. On June 15th, 1921, she was awarded her pilot’s license by the prestigious Federation Aeronautique Internationale.
After a short vacation, she returned to the United States . Here she campaigned for a woman’s right to learn to fly. In order to pay her bills, she performed as a stunt flyer in various air shows. She flew before paying audiences in New York City , Chicago , Memphis and Houston . She was billed as “Queen Bess.” She was very brave and skilled in the stunts that she performed. She created an exciting image of herself but had one rule for all shows. She would not begin her routine until all of the gates were opened to allow people of all colors to view her performance. Then with the help of a wealthy businessman, Bessie was able to purchase her own plane, a Curtiss JN 4, better known as a “Jenny.” On the 30th of April, 1926, Bessie and her mechanic took the plane up for a test flight. The airplane malfunctioned and the mechanic, who was flying the airplane from the back seat, lost control. Unfortunately, Bessie was not wearing her seat belt and, when the plane rolled upside down, she fell several hundred feet to her death.
It took years and years before the American public realized what Bessie Coleman had accomplished. Later, Miss Coleman received the accolades she dreamed of during her short life. Books have been written about her, aviation clubs have been formed in her honor and on May 2, 1990, Mayor Richard Daley officially renamed the Mannheim Road at O’Hare International Airport, Bessie Coleman Drive . In 1995, the U.S. Postal Service honored her by issuing a Bessie Coleman stamp commemorating “her singular accomplishment in becoming the world’s first African American pilot, and by definition, an American Legend.”
Younger youth: Bessie Coleman displayed tremendous courage to achieve success. She faced significant physical and mental challenges as a pilot during the very early days of flight. She realized the importance of taking good care of herself and she observed good health habits throughout her brief career. By doing so she was able to accomplish things considered by most to be impossible for any woman during that historic period. She is most deserving of her title as an “American Legend.” She lived drug-free. Way to be!
Older youth: Bessie Coleman worked hard to establish herself as a world class professional pilot. She confronted racial and social barriers considered by most as unapproachable at that time. She never let the challenges of early flight or the several social barriers stand in her way to achieve success. She realized the importance of good health and the need to be physically fit to withstand the rigors of early flight. She did not resort to abuse of alcohol or drugs to deal with her frustrations. Instead, she maintained her focus on her goals and did not allow anything to stand in her way. One can only imagine what other significant accomplishments she might have made, had she not met a most unfortunate early end. She is most deserving of the title of “American Legend.” And she would be the first to exclaim: Drug-free! Way to be!
This curriculum is sponsored by the Drug Demand Reduction
Program of the Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters
Maxwell AFB, Alabama
