Check out these photos of Bessie Coleman ( 1892 – 1926 ), who became one of the most famous women in aviation history.
Bessie graduated from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world’s air sports federation, making history as not only the first black person to earn a pilot’s license but also the first American to earn an international aviation license after being forced to study abroad because, as a black woman, she could not study at any American flight school.
The pioneer aviator died at the age of 34 after falling 500 feet from an aircraft during a routine practice run.
Be sure to read our full profile on Bessie Coleman, who proved that skin color and gender should not defer any dreams.
thanks for this GREAT insight, our people ARE phenomenal !!!!
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I agree. I love to learn about our own race b/c they dont tecah us this stuff in public schools.
Thank you, Peace At Heart!! I will research for the book African American Firsts, on the Internet and public library, very interesting. I want to be able to read as soon as possible like today.
that was great
What are people’s excuses today? I know that life is not smooth breezing especially for people in poor neighborhoods but DANG, we have 10 fold more opportunities today that we did in 1926 and yet people were able to accomplish so much…
This just depresses me for the future outlook of our people today… I some areas (especially big cities in urban centers) we’re barely graduating from highschool (50-60% graduation)… how can we expect to be gainfully employed?
Instead most our role models are Diddy (who wants all the attention and acclaim we give him but never wants to contribute/be responsible for helping to improving the black community)
I just feel so hopeless for most of us
ON POINT!!!!!
“not only the first black person to earn a pilot’s license but also the first American to earn an international aviation license”
No matter what people say my Black American Ancestors were the shit….
and @peaceatheart…I now know what to get myself for Christmas…….
I’m so happy you guys still do these posts. Right now, this is the classiest blog out there. Pls never lose that class
Thank you CL I am in awe of this great woman and other like her.
Amazing and I thank Bessie Coleman for her sacrifice but am I the only one who is bothered by the lack of comments, oh I forgot this is not about lil wayne, T.I. or any of the rest of them idiots. SMH!!!!!
I hope those maggots were pissed when they realized that she was the first to earn an international license because their own maggot-looking behinds wouldn’t let her study in the good ol’ US of A.
Too bad she died so young though.
RIP
wow, what an amazing pioneer. she’s very inspiring.
Thanks for posting this. I don’t ever want to see this section of the site disappear. So, I’ll most definitely do all I can to ensure that.
Proud of you concreteloop! Something positive for the youth! Great post!
She will never be forgotten, What a strong, positive woman she was, thats shows that we as black people can do anything we put our minds to, never focus on the negative. Put God first in your life no matter what, God bless.
MOTIVATED…
Good stuff! Keep it coming….
They need to teach this stuff in schools. Everythings we’ve ever learned was about whites. Its ridiculous.
Keep these coming and thanks!
Thank you for sharing about this individual and what her achieved and more.
I meant: what she achieved.
One of my inspirations.
This is the kind of ambition and determination that black women should strive to have.
& There should be 1,000 comments about this not 23!
It’s nice to know that my people are being remembered. I just wish other black people would know their history. I mean look how far we have come as a people and a lot blacks today know nothing about the hard work, struggles, and achievements of our ancestors and it’s a shame. I agree 100% with Youngzo; a lot of black people today, especially the youth are wasting time. Gang banging, smoking, drinking, drugs, STDs, baby mamas….REALLY???? Is this what we really have come to after all the hard work that Bessie Coleman and other blacks did just so we can live in a world and become this??? Black people need to get it together seriously!!! But on the other hand I am very, very, very, very, very proud of Bessie Coleman, MLK, Jackie Robinson, Madame Cj Walker, Malcolm X, Shirley Chisolm, Harriet tubman, Booker T. Washingston, G. Washington Carver, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, W.E.B DuBois, and many other blacks who have made life as it is today for black people possible. I also salute President Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
My daughter who’s eight years old chose Bessie Coleman as a historical figure for a class project. They are required to write a paper on and prepare a speech for the entire third grade. My daughter was assigned Helen Keller, but with my encouragement asked her teacher if she could choose Bessie Coleman instead. I have told my children since they were little about people of every race who have accomplished great things. I was surprised to find out that my daughters 3rd grade teacher had never heard of Bessie Coleman. She asked me to share any literature I had so that she may teach it to her students. I live in a small town in Alabama…you might have heard of it…Scottsboro, Alabama. If you know anything about black history then you know the significance of this. I guess what I’m trying to say is this, if you want more history regarding African Americans taught in schools…YOU MUST INSIST UPON IT! If no one says anything or does anything, change will never come. You have to be the change you want to see in the world and you can’t do it quietly.