Bessie Coleman: Queen of the Skies
The early years of aviation are rarely associated with women, let alone black women. Bessie Coleman was the women who, defying all odds, would become the first American to earn an international aviation licence directly from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).
Born in 1892 in Texas and later moving to Chicago, Coleman's interest in aviation began from stories of the planes during WWI told by her brother and the men in the barbershop where she worked. Having made connections with Robert Abbott, editor of the Chicago Defender and advocate for African American advancement, he persuaded Coleman to attempt to pursue her interest in becoming a pilot.
After attempting to join a flight school in the United States but being rejected from all on account of her race and gender, Abbott suggested she travel to France to gain her licence. After raising the funds, Coleman travelled to France in November 1920. She inquired at multiple flight schools before finding the Cauldron School of Aviation who agreed to take her on.
Coleman trained intensely for seven months before taking and passing the qualifying test to gain an international aviation licence from the FAI. This licence was the only type at the time which granted a pilot to fly anywhere in the world.
On 15th June 1921 Bessie Coleman would become the first American, regardless of race or gender, to be awarded an international aviation licence directly from the FAI.
After returning to the USA, Coleman began flying in air shows across the country and became a major figure in flying shows for both black and white people. She flew in stunt shows and holding lessons, with a focus on promoting black American's in aviation. Coleman ultimately dreamed of owning her own plane and flight school specifically to teach black American's how to fly.
Sadly, Coleman's life and dreams were cut short when in 1926, at the age of 34, the plane she was flying malfunctioned at 3,000 feet, causing it to flip and Coleman to not survive the fall. Thousands attended her funeral in Chicago where her contributions to both women and black American's were recognised.
Frequently forgotten and overlooked as a pioneer in aviation, Bessie Coleman's determination, passion and resilience opened doors for both women and black people to enter the world of aviation. She is a women who deserves to be remembered just as much as her counterparts of the era.
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