When Bessie Coleman first took flight in 1921, at the age of 29, she not only slipped the surly bonds of Earth but those of the racial prejudice and sexism of the time.
Bessie Coleman: Remembering an Aviation Pioneer
Key Takeaways:
- Bessie Coleman was a pioneering aviator who overcame severe racial and gender discrimination in the U.S. to become the first African-American and Native American woman to earn an international pilot's license in France in 1921.
- Known as "Queen Bess," she returned to the U.S. to perform aerobatic routines and inspire her community, though she continued to face discrimination that prevented her from owning a plane or working in commercial aviation.
- Coleman is celebrated as a powerful symbol of overcoming prejudice and a foundational figure in aviation, with her legacy recently honored by Google on her 125th birthday.
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