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Bessie Coleman. Image by National Air and Space Museum –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Bessie Coleman

Coleman was an American civil aviator and the first African-American woman to hold a pilot’s license. She was born in Texas in 1892 and got a passion for aviation from an early age. She was also a fierce advocate for equal rights and opportunities in aviation. Her pioneering work opened the door for future generations of aviators and made her an inspiring role model for many. She faced discrimination and sexism due to her race and gender but still pursued her dreams. Her work opened the door for future generations of aviators and she is remembered for her courage, commitment to equality and opportunity, and for inspiring others to reach for their dreams. Her inspiring story is remembered to this day as an example of how anything is possible if you work hard and never give up. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of pilots and aviation professionals to pursue their dreams and break through barriers.

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1. Coleman was the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license

Bessie Coleman’s pilot license in 1921 from the F茅d茅ration A茅ronautique Internationale. Image by 
F茅d茅ration A茅ronautique Internationale –

Soldiers returning from World War I came back with wild tales of flying exploits. The stories fascinated young Bessie so much. More so her brother kept on telling her how French women were superior to African American women because they could fly. In her seven months of school, she was the only student of color in her class. This did not deter her from realizing her dreams. She obtained her license in France in 1921. When she came back to the US she became an overnight celebrity. She was invited as a guest of honor to attend the all-Black musical Shuffle Along where everyone rose to give the first African American female pilot a standing ovation.

2. She attained her pilot license in France because the US would accept her as a student due to her race and gender

In 1918, few American women of any race had pilot’s licenses. Those who did were white and from money. In fact, there were many social and cultural barriers that limited opportunities for these groups in many areas of life. She approached several schools but they all rejected her because she was both black and a woman. It was until she met Robert Abbott, the owner of the Chicago Defender and one of the first African American millionaires, who advised her to go to France. She learned French at a Berlitz school in the Chicago loop and set off for Paris from New York on November 20, 1920.

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3. She was nicknamed “Queen Bess” 

Bessie Coleman Women’s Quarter. Image by Eric David Custer, Chris Costello –

Other nicknames she had included 鈥淏rave Bessie,鈥� and 鈥淭he Only Race Aviatrix in the World.鈥� Her courage, determination, and achievements made her an inspiration to many people. Her nickname “Queen Bess” reflected her status as a pioneering figure and a role model for other women and people of color who were striving to break through social and cultural barriers. Her legacy continues to inspire new generations of pilots and aviation professionals to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles.

4. Coleman was one of thirteen siblings

Bessie Coleman was from a large family. She was one of thirteen siblings, born to George and Susan Coleman, who were African American sharecroppers in Texas. Coleman grew up in a poverty-stricken family and faced many obstacles in her early life. Despite all these, the large family had a significant impact on her life and shaped her character. It instilled in her a strong work ethic and a sense of determination, which helped her to overcome the many obstacles she faced as a woman of color in a male-dominated industry. Additionally, Coleman’s siblings supported her throughout her life and career, and several of them also went on to achieve success in their own fields.

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5. She worked as a manicurist to save up for flight school

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After completing her education in a one-room schoolhouse in Texas, Coleman moved to Chicago in 1915 to live with her brothers. There, she worked odd jobs to support herself, including as a manicurist in a barbershop. While working as a manicurist, she met Robert Abbott, who encouraged her to pursue a career in aviation and helped fund her training in France. Coleman’s journey from manicurist to pioneering aviator reflects her determination, resilience, and the support she received from others who believed in her abilities.  It also inspires people to pursue their dreams, no matter how unlikely they may seem.

6. Coleman became a phenomenal barnstormer

Bessie Coleman and her plane in 1922. Image by an unknown author –

Barnstorming was a popular form of entertainment in the early days of aviation, where pilots would perform aerial stunts and tricks in front of crowds of people. She was famous for doing 鈥渓oop-the-loops鈥� and making the shape of an 鈥�8鈥� in an airplane. Her skills fascinated people and she gained fame both in the United States and in Europe. She toured the country giving flight lessons and performing in flight shows. Despite facing faced many obstacles in her career, including discrimination and racism, she persevered and became a successful barnstormer, inspiring many other women and people of color to pursue careers in aviation.

7. She refused to perform in segregated shows 

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Coleman was an advocate for equal rights for African Americans and women. She had faced discrimination and racism throughout her life, both in and out of the aviation industry. She believed that all people, regardless of race, should have the opportunity to witness her aerial displays, and she refused to perform in any air show that was segregated. This stance sometimes led to difficulties in finding work, but Coleman remained steadfast in her principles and refused to compromise her beliefs. Her refusal to perform in segregated air shows was an important part of her legacy and contributed to the broader struggle for civil rights and social justice in the United States.

8. Coleman died in a plane crash

Grave of Bessie Coleman (1892鈥�1926) at Lincoln Cemetery, Blue Island, IL. Image by Nick Number –

She tragically died in an airplane crash while attempting an aerial stunt in Jacksonville, Florida on April 30, 1926. The 34-year-old crashed while attempting an aerial stunt. Many speculations were made on the cause of the accident but the cause was never definitively determined. What is definite is that she died doing something she was passionate about and left a lasting legacy on the aviation industry. Her death was heartbreaking for thousands of people across the world. About 10,000 mourners paid their last respects to the first African American woman aviator, filing past her coffin in Chicago South’s Side. A famous activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett delivered her eulogy. 

9. She was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame

In 2001, Coleman was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2006, she was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. It was nearly 80 years after her death. In 1931, the Challenger Pilots鈥� Association of Chicago started a tradition of flying over Coleman鈥檚 grave every year. Many aviation clubs were named in her honor, including the Bessie Coleman Aero Club, organized by William Powell in the 1930s, and the Bessie Coleman Aviators, which formed in Chicago in 1977. In 1995, the 鈥淏essie Coleman Stamp鈥� was made to commemorate all of her accomplishments. In 2023, the U.S. Mint released a special quarter featuring Bessie Coleman as part of the American Women Quarters Program.

10. Coleman inspired a generation of African Americans 

Bessie Coleman in 1923. Image by unknown –

Coleman was an inspiration to many African Americans. She indirectly inspired the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American military pilots and airmen who fought in World War II, through Willa Brown. Brown followed Coleman鈥檚 footsteps and left her high school teaching job to go to flight school. She became a certified master mechanic, earned an MBA from Northwestern University, and became the first African American woman to receive a private pilot鈥檚 lesson in the United States. She and her husband Cornelius Coffey opened the Coffey School of Aeronautics near Chicago. She was responsible for training over 200 future Tuskegee Airmen and was an advocate for the inclusion of African American pilots in the CPTP and the armed forces.

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