Bessie Coleman
Ever drive near O’Hare Airport’s International Terminal 5? The street that starts at this terminal is Bessie Coleman Drive. Heading north this drive houses car rentals, long-term parking, and taxi holding area lies. It is named after Bessie Coleman [January 26, 1892 – April 30, 1926], who was an American civil aviator. She was the first woman of African-American descent and the first of Native American descent, to hold a pilot license. She achieved her international pilot license in 1921.
Born in Atlanta, Texas on January 26, 1892 to Susan and George Coleman she was one of twelve siblings. Bessie grew up helping her mother to pick cotton and took in laundry to earn extra money. When she was eighteen, she had saved enough money to attend the Colored Agriculture and Normal University [also known as Langston University - the only historically black college in the of Oklahoma].
She left the university after one semester because she couldn’t afford to attend.
She developed an early interest in flying, but African Americans, Native Americans, and women had no flight-school opportunities in the United States. She applied to flight schools across the country, but none would accept her because she was African American and a woman. Despite the obstacles she remained undeterred, she saved up money to go to France to become a licensed pilot in France. Yet another hurdle presented itself when applications were required to be submitted in French. Bessie took night classes to prepare and finally she was accepted at the Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation. On June 15, 1921 she received her international pilots license.
Having succeeded in her dream, she wanted to share her gift with others. In 1922 she performed the first public flight by an African American woman.
She performed for crowds and became popular in Europe and America and toured the country giving lessons and encouraging more African American women to become pilots. Bessie stood against racism and segregation refusing to perform anywhere that discriminated against African Americans and she was famous for standing up for her beliefs.
She soon became a successful air show pilot in the United States, and hoped to start a school for African-American fliers.
Her incredible career was short lived. On April 30, 1926 Bessie Coleman died while on a test flight with William Wills when she was flying as a passenger. Wills lost control of the aircraft when a wrench came loose during flight. The airplane flipped and Coleman was not wearing a seatbelt. Planes at this point did not have a roof or any kind of protection. Coleman was found near the plane crash. Her loss was devastating to the community of followers she built, but her success and spirit live on as an inspiration. She is proudly remembered as a pioneer for African Americans, Native Americans, and women everywhere.
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