BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: BESSIE COLEMAN
Thursday, September 18, 2008
BESSIE COLEMAN (1892-1926) was the first black person to become an airplane pilot and the first American of any race or gender to hold an international pilot license.
Born in Atlanta, Texas, Coleman was the tenth of thirteen children. Her parents, George and Susan Coleman, were sharecroppers, and young Bessie made a vow to one day “amount to something”. She walked four miles each day to her all-black, one-room school. She loved to read and became an outstanding math student. In 1901, George grew tired of the racial barriers in Texas and went to Oklahoma, but did not take his family.
Bessie graduated from high school and had saved enough money to pay for only one semester at the Colored Agricultural Normal University in Langston, Oklahoma. After that semester, she went to Chicago at the age of 23. Coleman lived with her brothers and worked with them at the White Sox Barber Shop as a manicurist. It wasn’t long before she became interested in the aviation field after hearing tales of the world from pilots who were returning home from World War I. Determined to become a pilot, she quit her job and applied to various aeronautics schools around the country.
She was repeatedly rejected because of racist and sexist policies. With the encouragement of Robert S. Abbott, founder and editor of the Chicago Defender, and financial assistance from Jesse Binga, founder and president of Chicago’s Binga State Bank, Coleman took French lessons and went to France to study aviation and obtain her pilot’s license. She graduated in June 1921 from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, specializing in parachuting and stunt flying.
Coleman returned to America in September of that year and instantly became a media sensation in black and white press. In 1922, she participated at her first airshow, in Long Island. In Los Angeles, California, she broke a leg and three ribs when her plane stalled and crashed on February 22, 1922. Her barnstorming achievements won acclaim from everyone that saw her flying exhibitions. She became known as “Brave Bessie” for her daring stunts, and later “Queen Bess”. Coleman never lost sight of her childhood vow to one day “amount to something.” The press often criticized her for her opportunistic nature, but she gained a reputation as a skilled and daring pilot who would always complete a difficult stunt.
Through her media contacts, she was offered a role in a feature-length film titled Shadow and Sunshine, to be financed by Seminole Film Producing Company. She gladly accepted, hoping the publicity would help to advance her career and provide her with some of the money she needed to establish her own flying school. But upon learning that the first scene in the movie required her to appear in tattered clothes, with a walking stick and a pack on her back, she refused to proceed. Doris Rich wrote, “Clearly, [Bessie's] walking off the movie set was a statement of principle. Opportunist though she was about her career, she was never an opportunist about race. She had no intention of perpetuating the derogatory image most whites had of most blacks.”
At the age of thirty-four, on April 30, 1926, Coleman was in Jacksonville, Florida, preparing for an exhibition the following day. Her mechanic and publicity agent, William Wills, was flying a plane she had recently purchased for the airshow, and she was in the other seat. Coleman didn’t put her seatbelt on because she was planning a parachute jump and wanted to look over the cockpit to examine the terrain. Ten minutes into the flight, the plane did not pull out of a planned nosedive, instead accelerating into a tailspin. Coleman was thrown from the plane at 500 feet and died instantly when she hit the ground. Wills was unable to gain control of the plane, and it plummeted to the ground. He died upon impact, and the plane burst into flames. Although the wreckage of the plane was badly burned, it was later discovered that a wrench used to service the engine had slid into the gearbox and jammed it, causing the plane to spin out of control.
Her funeral, on May 2, 1926, was attended by over 5,000 mourners, including Ida B. Wells, among other prominent members of black society in Jacksonville. Three days later, another service was held in Orlando where thousands more attended the funeral. On May 5, a memorial was held in Chicago, and an estimated 10,000 people filed past the coffin all day and night. She was buried in Lincoln Cemetery.
In 1927, Bessie Coleman Aero Clubs sprang up around the country. On Labor Day 1931, the clubs sponsored the first all-black air show, which attracted over 15,000 spectators. That same year, a group of African American pilots established an annual flyover of Coleman’s grave in Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago. In 1995, Coleman was honored with her image on a U.S. postage stamp and was inducted into the Women in Aviation Hall of Fame. In November 2000, Bessie was inducted in the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. She is the subject of “Barnstormer,” a musical debuting October 20-21 at the National Alliance for Musical Theater Festival in New York.
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Concrete Loop features ‘Black History Spotlights’ each week honoring black people who have played pivotal roles in history. submissions are welcome.
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59 Comments
1.
MissMarcJacobs
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Bessie was a Beautiful Woman!
History is Knowledge!
Jeeze!
2.
Trinity
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
That is amazing!
3.
uptowngirl
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Her story just proves that nothing can hold you back except yourself.
4.
jojodancer
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
She was amazing. Thanks for posting this.
5.
Christina K.
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Wow what a brave women who broke barriers. Sad that she passed, but she passed with a story and not settling !!!!
6.
darkflava
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Great post!!!!!!!!!
7.
Dame( Please vote)
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Great post
8.
SouthernGirl4Life
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
We are remarkable people. We can do anything that we set our minds to. PLEASE VOTE THIS ELECTION!!!!! LET’S MAKE HISTORY AGAIN!!
9.
shaiy
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
This is perfect hollywood blockbuster material.w onder why there was no movie about her. clearly this story needs to be told. i think on screen her story would be a lot more interesting than “aviotor”, which i found extremely boring!
10.
Luxe
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I love these posts!! I just wonder if the wrench was left in there on purpose. Y’all know how some of those “folks” do.
11.
cynthia
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I love your black history posts, this one is no different. It’s simply amazing what black individuals can do when their minds are strong. Follow suit people.
12.
Sexycdg
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
This was such a wonderful read!!
Thanks so much for sharing this knowledge with us–keeping our history alive…
13.
NaijaQT
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Bessie smashed so many barriers, which was astounding for anyone to accomplish during those times. Hearing stories like this make me proud to be an African American woman! I actually did a report on her in high school..and yes, I got an “A”…lol.
14.
OMON IMO
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Now that is one strong black woman.
15.
Let me just say this.... (I don't care if ya get mad)
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
She was awesome wow who knew! Thanks Dakar!
16.
Atouchofjazz
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Amazing!! I never knew this.
17.
Chelly
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
What a woman! So sad that she died so young, but yet she accomplished so much.
18.
beyonceaintallthat
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats all i can say right now. these stories just make me wanna be a better person.
This was back in the day when shi-t was real hard and racisism was off the chain and this women still managed to be an icon. these are the people i look up to.
19.
Tealeaf
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
That’s a great achievement
20.
candikane
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Bessie was a BEAUTIFUL and determined young lady that opened doors for many people. Thank you CL for this wonderful post!
21.
BEAUTY Q.T.
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Nice!
22.
salma80
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
i was thinking the same thing about the Wrench! wow.. that will be a powerful movie.. I can see Beyonce playing the lead…
23.
mybusinessnotyours
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
WE FLY HIGH..NO LIE..AND YOU KNOW THIS…BALLIN!!!!
lol go bessie coleman…not just the first african american but the first african american WOMAN.
24.
WHAT A WORLD
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Thank you!
25.
Taj
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
She was brilliant it seems and it is great to know that she persevered through racism. It is sad that women like her and Phillippa Schuyler died that way.
26.
Mel B
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
This story gave me chills. I give much props to the CL for posting and big ups for the guy that’s finding these great stories. Much respect & wonderful job!
Mel/Supernovafilms.com
27.
KeKe
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Black women making moves…luv it!! We’ll continue to celebrate our excellence in 08
28.
Hot stuff
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I am blowen away by this story , rih rih , would be great in this roll , 1 . SHE SPEAKS a little french , and can relate more to that culture , and she is a trend setter for both Blacks and Whites , and so was BESSIE
And she would , gather more appeal …….
For such a powerful story , we need a person that’s relatable … on all level’s
29.
the_one
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
J Dakar you know I so admire your continued efforts to educate the masses on what we have done in the United States and abroad. I am sorry so many people didnt know of the contributions of Ms. Coleman.
FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE, PLEASE PURCHASE the book FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM by John Hope Franklin.
If you have children or just want to know what we have contributed to America please get this reference guide. I used it all through college in my AA courses and I will say I am so much better for it
You cannot blame the man for your miseducation if you continue to relinquish your power to learn.
30.
shaiy
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
@salma80,yeah..i kinda also see beyonce playing bessie (that is, if her acting skills improve)
however, i didn`t want to bring up beyonce in yet another post. thx for doing it for me
whatsorever, bessie was a strong woman! one just has to consider all the obstacles she had to break through, to get where she was! truly amazing and honorable!
31.
sunny
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
aww great post
32.
sassydancer
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
homage to bessie coleman kewl, thanks concreteloop!
33.
Ara
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Ms Bessie Coleman, my hero, a woman who pursued and accomplished her goal of becoming a pilot and refused to compromise her pride and dignity. I wonder if her plane was sabotaged, I mean a wrench being left if the compartment by the mechanic sounds lame. You know white people don’t like it when you stand up to them ……… you are perceived as uppity, particularly in that day and time which was deep in the Jim Crow era.
34.
Lisa
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Wow…amazing story
35.
Ara
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
@ 10 Luxe
I had not read your post, sometimes I post before reading comments, but we both were thinking the same thing.
36.
Ara
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
* left in the compartment*
37.
FuschiaLove
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
woww!
she was so focused.
motivates and reminds me to keep my eye on my goals and never stray.
38.
judasgoat
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
this article makes me wonder, “where have all the flowers gone”. i think of the song “black pearl” by the checkmates. i bet you ms. coleman didn’t have no ghetto-sassy attitude. there was no affirmitive action she done this on her on instead of looking to a gov’t that can’t stand the black race. she embraced education and language and wasn’t a criminal ms. tonyaa weather-spoon or what ever your name is . there nothing hypocritical in this this. it is what you must do even though this country doesn’t give a damn about us. america isn’t going to give me anything. so make something of yourself. or you will parish ms. tonyaa. i’ll tell you sometimes you educated people floor me. i have to keep it simple. to alexis hermann a obama presidency won’t benefit the black race much. we have got to do what obama did. educate ourselves. black people something is not working. can’t you people see. juliann malvaxeu speak for your own because the brown people SURE ain’t speaking for you. wake up. richard nixon gave JAMES BROWN a heads up and told him when james brown met him at the white house. nixon said “they are going to go after you” because they [the gov't ] seen a blackman that had power thus malcolm x. states THIS SYSTEM GEARS A BLACKMAN FOR FAILURE. thus the reason why this presidential race is so tight. white man doesn’t want to look weak in front of his white woman. SO HE TOOK ON HIS WHITE WOMEN AS A RUNNING MATE . AND so you have the tom bradleys who can’t see a blackman as president. black folks this election should make you take note. and THINK about trying something new, or are you going to continue to frocklic on the PLANTATION. you think the people in the 1920’s depended on washington to create a black wall street. ALL YOU SO-CALLED HIGH POLLUT’N social status and secert society black folks you are still in the desert. 40 yrs and counting. this election will show its TRUE COLORS. i’am reading the book [singing in a strange land ] the c.l. franklin autobi. what went on then still reverbates to this day. this is babylon A.D. while black folks and rappers think its all right to go around calling each other the n word. saying its a term of endearment. you have got to be out your minds.
39.
MW09
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Love Her!! She’s ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!
40.
Rih..Who?
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
OH NO!! NO NO NO!! If there was a movie I DEFINITELY wouldn’t want Beyonce playing her. Why? Because Bessie dies and if I see Beyonce die in another movie then….
In Carmen:A Hip-Hopera I cried up a damn waterway screaming “Not my Bey!!”
ANYWAYS–>> She was very amazing! The things that these people do and go through makes me never want to complain about the life I live.
41.
Whats up
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I wonder is Beyonce family , and staff working on this Site to keep her name out ,, dose she pay well ??????????? WHERE ON TO THE GAME !!!
42.
EJ
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Wow, what an inspirational story. Black women making strides…lovely.
43.
Ms Ke
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
great post. keep em coming!
44.
BadGirl23
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I love these posts!!!
@38 I read your post and I do agree with you. I mean all of the excuses that folks are using nowaday’s DOESN’T even compare to what this woman and other before us had to go through. It really is time that we wake up as a ppl because I don’t know where we fell off but we did and we’re still down. I mean this election is a real test right here and it’s a shame so many of our ppl are to ignorant to understand the impact and the importance.
I’m starting to think Obama’s camp needs to offer free tickets to see Jay-Z or meet & greet with Fiddy or Beyonce to get folks registered and out to the polls. Sad!
45.
MS. KELLS
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I LOVE THESE BLACK SPOTLIGHTS!!!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK CL!!!
46.
richy
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
this was great!
47.
Lovely20
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I never knew the way she died that is very sad….her only living relative is my next door neighbor.
48.
Nia
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I love the Black History Spotlights. You always choose such innovative and inspirational figures in history. I really appreciate them.
49.
NO ID
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
I knew Bessie’s story but I’m so glad you exposed a new group of folks to it….she was truly amazing and definitely worthy of at least an HBO movie or something!!!
50.
ms_mac
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Luv her!! In 1995 someone bought me an ebossed sweatshirt with her face on it. I still have that shirt to this day and people still ask me “who’s that lady?” I’m always proud to explain that she was the first Black female to fly a plane. U go girl!
51.
Wolff313
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Thank you CL for the enlightening post!
52.
tourq
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Man I wish we could all be like that. Look at us now, some of have no morals(entertainment industry) the clothing people wear, prisons fill to capacity of both black men and women and the drop out rate………………it just goes to show that this generation is wasting what the past generations have fought for.
53.
Lena
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
This is my first time visiting this site. Of course, what attracted me was the information about various celebrity figures. What will keep me coming back is the hope that a new article will be posted continuously regarding Black achievers. Thank you ConcreteLoop. =Great Look.
54.
0123
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
That was amazing. I actually had tears in my eyes. I mean really astonishing. Why don’t we KNOW about these things?!?
55.
Theworldwillendin2012
Thursday, September 18, 2008 /
Im sorry, please enlighten me as 2 how Beyonce & Rihanna’s names r brought up in this post!????? Thank you for this article.
56.
Kena-smilez all day
Friday, September 19, 2008 /
I love this I think we need more black history articles rather then who wore it better cause clearly we know the answers to that but we don’t to our history BIG UPS
57.
Kena-smilez all day
Friday, September 19, 2008 /
I mean really can she get a hallmark or HBO moment I mean dang!
58.
Confucius
Friday, September 19, 2008 /
Oh no…she died 5 years later after returning from France! The great thing is that even though her life was cut short, she lived it to the fullest.
59.
Lykia
Friday, September 19, 2008 /
im so glad you put up bessie coleman..i had the honor of playing her in elementry because i look like her …that was an amazing woman