Bessie Coleman

January 26,1892–April 30,1926

Born in Texas, to parents of African and Native American ancestry, Coleman worked in the cotton fields at a young age, while studying in a segregated school. Facing discrimination in the U.S., she traveled to France to study aviation and in 1921 became the first Black woman—and first American woman—to earn an international pilot’s license. She returned to the U.S. as a stunt pilot and worked to create opportunities for African American aviators, refusing to perform at segregated events. Coleman died in 1926 during a rehearsal, but her courage, perseverance, and advocacy continue to inspire.