Bessie Coleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bessie Coleman
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| Born | January 26, 1892 Atlanta, Texas, USA
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| Died | April 30, 1926 (aged 34) |
| Known for | Pioneer aviator |
Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman (born January 26, 1892 – died April 30, 1926) was an amazing American pilot. She was the first African American woman and the first Native American woman to get an international pilot license. Bessie faced many challenges and discrimination because of her race and gender. But she never gave up on her dream of flying. She became a famous "barnstormer," which means she flew planes to do exciting stunts and give rides. She also taught others about aviation.
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Early Life and Dreams
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Bessie Coleman was born in Texas in 1892. Her mother was African American, and her father was Native American. She was one of thirteen children. Her parents were sharecroppers, which means they farmed land owned by someone else and paid rent with a share of their crops.
When Bessie was two, her family moved to Waxahachie, Texas. Bessie loved to read and was very good at math in school. When she was nine, her father left the family. Bessie's mother worked as a maid to support the family. During the cotton harvest, everyone, including the children, worked in the fields. This was hard work, and African American children could not go to school during harvest time.
Even with these challenges, Bessie finished all eight grades in her local school. She dreamed of going to college. She saved her money for about four years and finally had enough to start college. However, she ran out of money after just one year.
At age 23, Bessie moved to Chicago to live with her brothers. She became a manicurist and worked at a barber shop. There, she heard exciting stories about flying from pilots who had returned from World War I. Bessie decided she wanted to become a pilot too. She took a second job at a chili parlor to save even more money for flying lessons. Around 1917, Bessie married Claude Glenn, but they soon separated.
Learning to Fly
In the 1920s, most flight schools in America did not allow women or black people to attend. Bessie's friend, Robert Abbott, who owned a large black newspaper, told her she could go to France to learn to fly.
Bessie worked hard, studying the French language at night after work. She also got a new job managing a restaurant to save more money. Robert Abbott and her friends helped her pay for the trip. In 1920, Bessie sailed to France. She learned to fly at the Caudron Brothers' School of Aviation. In 1921, Bessie Coleman made history. She became the first female African American pilot and the first female Native American pilot to get an international pilot license. She earned it from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
"Queen Bess" the Barnstormer
After getting her license, Bessie returned to the United States. She became a "barnstormer," performing amazing tricks and stunts in her airplane. Barnstormers like Bessie flew planes in loops, figure eights, and other patterns for crowds to watch. She performed in the United States and Europe.
During the 1920s, many parts of the United States still had racial segregation. This meant black and white people were kept separate. Bessie refused to perform at places that did not allow African Americans to watch equally. For one show in Texas, she insisted that everyone in the audience enter through the same gate. She would not perform unless they agreed.
Bessie also taught flying lessons and encouraged other women to learn to be pilots. She dreamed of opening her own aviation school in the United States where black students could learn to fly.
A Tragic End
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In April 1926, Bessie Coleman was practicing for a show the next day. She was with her mechanic, William Wills. Wills was flying the plane when it suddenly flipped over and started to fall. Bessie fell out of the plane and was killed. William Wills could not get control of the plane. It crashed to the ground, exploded, and caught fire. Later, it was found that a wrench used to fix the engine had gotten stuck in the controls.
Bessie Coleman is buried in Chicago's Lincoln Cemetery.
Honors and Legacy
Bessie Coleman is remembered as a brave pioneer in aviation. Many places and awards have been named in her honor:
- A museum in Atlanta, Texas, displays a small version of her yellow bi-plane, "Queen Bess."
- Roads at major airports, like O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, and in cities like Waxahachie, Texas, are named after her.
- A public library in Chicago and a middle school in Cedar Hill, Texas, carry her name.
- Several scholarships have been created to help high school students who want to work in aviation.
- In 1995, the U.S. Postal Service released a stamp honoring Bessie Coleman.
- She was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2001.
- In 2006, she was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
- African-American aviators often drop flowers over her grave during flyovers to honor her.
- In 2017, on her 125th birthday, Google Doodle featured her in their special artwork.
Bessie Coleman's Words of Wisdom
Bessie Coleman was known for her strong spirit and inspiring words:
- "I refused to take no for an answer."
- "You’ve never lived till you’ve flown."
- "A woman is like a teabag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water."
Interesting Facts About Bessie Coleman
- Bessie was very smart and worked hard to show that black women could achieve great things.
- She applied to many flight schools in the United States but was not accepted by any of them.
- Robert Abbott, the publisher of the Chicago Defender newspaper, heard about her determination. He published her story and helped raise money for her to go to France.
- The Caudron Brothers of France were famous for their aviation school, much like the Wright brothers in the U.S.
- Bessie learned how to do amazing airplane stunts from a pilot named Anthony Fokker.
- Her nicknames included "Queen Bess" and "Brave Bessie."
- She survived a plane crash in 1923 when her plane's engine stopped during a performance.
See also
- List of firsts in aviation
- Eugene Bullard, the first African-American to earn a pilot's license
- Mae Jemison, the first African-American female astronaut in space, who carried a picture of Bessie Coleman with her on her first mission
- Military history of African Americans
