During the 1920s, Bessie Coleman (1892—1926) gained recognition as an aerial stunt pilot. An original barnstormer, she captivated audiences with aerobatic feats of daring at airshows across the American South. But, prior to achieving this, she faced the challenge of obtaining her pilot's license. As a Black woman no American aviation school was willing to instruct her. Determined, Coleman diligently saved her money and received support from prominent Black Americans in Chicago. With their help she traveled to France for flight training. In 1921, she made history by becoming the first American to acquire an international pilot's license.
Devoted to promoting aviation within the Black community, Coleman aspired to establish her own flight school. Tragically, at the age of 34, she lost her life in a crash during a test flight in 1926. Nevertheless, her legacy endures, inspiring subsequent Black pilots in the next generation of aviation pioneers. Several institutions, including clubs, a flight school, and an airplane manufacturing company, bear her name. To honor her memory, in 2006 Bessie Coleman was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of Black American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.
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Bessie Coleman