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.
