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Top 20 Amazing Facts about Bessie Coleman

Originally published by Ruth on November 2022. Updated by Charity K on January 2024.

Bessie Coleman was an early American civil aviator. She was the first African-American woman and the first Native American to hold a pilot license. She earned her license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale on June 15, 1921, and was the first Black person to earn an international pilot’s license. Read more on the 30 Famous Black People Who Changed the World. 

Bessie was born to a family of sharecroppers in Texas. Coleman worked in the cotton fields at a young age while also studying in a small segregated school. She attended one term of college at Langston University. Coleman developed an early interest in flying, but African Americans, Native Americans, and women had no flight training opportunities in the United States, so she saved and obtained sponsorships in Chicago to go to France for flight school.

In this article, we highlight the top 10 amazing facts about Bessie Coleman.

1. Bessie was the first African-American woman to hold a pilot’s license

Coleman earned her license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale on June 15, 1921. She was the first Black person to earn an international pilot’s license. 

Pilot certification in the United States is typically required for an individual to act as a pilot-in-command of an aircraft. It is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

2. Coleman developed an early interest in flying but American Flying Schools didn’t admit her

Bessie Coleman, the first licensed black pilot in the United States by Black Wings –

Coleman applied to schools across the country, but no one accepted her application because she was Black and a woman. 

She was told to move to France to learn how to fly.  She took French classes at night to complete the application in French.  Coleman was accepted at the Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation in Le Crotoy.  June 15, 1921, is when she received her international pilot’s license.

3. Coleman obtained sponsorships in Chicago to go to France for flight school

In 1915, at the age of 23, Coleman moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she lived with her brothers. In Chicago, she heard stories of flying during wartime from pilots returning home from World War I. 

She took a second job as a restaurant manager to save money in hopes of becoming a pilot. American flight schools of the time admitted neither women nor black people.  Robert S. Abbott, founder and publisher of the Chicago Defender newspaper, encouraged her to study abroad. Abbot publicized Coleman’s quest in his newspaper and she received financial sponsorship from banker Jesse Binga and the Defender.

4. Coleman became a high-profile pilot in air shows in the United States

Bessie Coleman in 1923 –

Bessie was popularly known as Queen Bess and Brave Bessie. She hoped to start a school for African-American fliers. Her pioneering role was an inspiration to early pilots and to the African-American and Native American communities.

An air show is a public event where aircraft are exhibited. They often include aerobatics demonstrations, and they are called static air shows with aircraft parked on the ground.

5. Coleman Championed for equal rights for Black People to Combat Racism

After purchasing her own plane in the 1920s, during the Jim Crow era in the United States, she was set to perform in her hometown of Texas. 

It was segregated at the time as a result of the Jim Crow era, but she refused to perform unless event planners had the same entrance for both African Americans and white people. The event managers agreed but people still had to sit in segregated sections at the stadium.

6. Coleman primarily flew Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplanes

Bessie Coleman and her plane in 1922 –

The Curtiss JN Jenny was a series of biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later known as the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for the US Army, the Jenny continued after World War I as a civil aircraft, as it became the backbone of American civil aviation. Coleman primarily flew Curtiss JN-4 Jenny biplanes and other aircraft that had been army surplus aircraft left over from the war. 

7.  A local street was renamed Bessie Coleman Street in her honour in 2013

In the 1920s, she met the Rev. Hezekiah Hill and his wife Viola on a speaking tour in Orlando, Florida. The community activists invited her to stay with them at the parsonage of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on Washington Street in the neighborhood of Parramore. 

A local street was renamed Bessie Coleman Street in her honor in 2013. The couple, who treated her as a daughter, persuaded her to stay, and Coleman opened a beauty shop in Orlando to earn extra money to buy her own plane.

8. Bessie was offered a role in a film titled, Shadow and Sunshine

Bessie Coleman, First African American Pilot by National Air and Space Museum –

The film was to be financed by the African American 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. She had no intention of perpetuating the derogatory image most whites had of most blacks.

9. Powell founded the Bessie Coleman Aero Club

William Jenifer Powell was an American engineer, soldier, civil aviator and writer who is credited with promoting aviation among the African-American community. Along with Bessie Coleman and James Banning, he is recognized as a pioneer aviator and a civil rights activist. Powell served in a segregated unit during World War I, and tirelessly promoted the cause of black aviation through his book, his journals, and the Bessie Coleman Aero Club, which he founded in 1929.

10. Coleman died in a plane crash in 1926

On April 30, 1926, Coleman was in Florida. She had recently purchased a Curtiss JN-4 in Dallas. Her mechanic and publicity agent, 24-year-old William D. Wills, flew the plane from Dallas in preparation for an airshow and had to make three forced landings along the way because the plane had been so poorly maintained.

Upon learning this, Coleman’s friends and family did not consider the aircraft safe and implored her not to fly it, but she refused. On take-off, Wills was flying the plane with Coleman in the other seat. She was planning a parachute jump for the next day and wanted to examine the terrain as seen from the cockpit.

About ten minutes into the flight, the plane unexpectedly went into a dive and then a spin at 3,000 feet above the ground. Coleman was thrown from the plane at 2,000 ft and was killed instantly when she hit the ground. Wills was unable to regain control of the plane, and it plummeted to the ground. He died upon impact. The plane exploded, bursting into flames.

Read more on 10 World Celebrities Who Tragically died.

11. Bessie was a Hollywood Stuntwoman

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Before her career in the skies took off,  she honed her skills as a Hollywood stuntwoman. Bessie would perform daring leaps and falls from moving trains and cars. Her experience as a stuntwoman prepared her for the physical demands of aviation.

12. Colemand was Noted as a Fearless Fashionista

It should be noted that Bessie defied expectations in both her career and personal life. Bessie would perform in colorful custom-made jumpsuits with vibrant colors such as red, purple, and green. Some of her jumpsuits had African-inspired patterns and fabrics that celebrated her heritage. Bessie often wore scarves and jewelry which were adorned with feathers and beads. Her fashionable attire countered the stereotype of Black women as solely interested in appearances.

13. She was a Spoken Word Activist

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Aside from being a pilot, she was also a powerful advocate for racial equality. She would deliver inspiring speeches at schools, churches, and community events. She also encouraged  Black youth to pursue their dreams and overcome limitations. Bessie used her platform to encourage Black communities to embrace aviation as a path to progress and economic opportunity. Her speeches mainly highlighted the potential of this field for overcoming racial barriers as well as achieving social mobility.

14. Bessie was a Skilled Mechanic 

She would take care of minor repairs and maintenance tasks on her aircraft. She would also perform routine procedures like adjusting wires, cleaning engines, and changing spark plugs. However, due to racial barriers, she was denied formal mechanic training in the U.S. In France, she received basic instruction on airplane maintenance.

15. Coleman participated in Humanitarian Work

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As the first Black woman pilot, she served as a role model for countless Black communities. Bessie spoke up against discrimination and segregation. She urged for equal opportunities for Black Americans in all aspects of life. Bessie also encouraged Black communities to prioritize education as a key to overcoming limitations and achieving economic advancement. 

Bessie’s career defied gender stereotypes and opened doors for future generations of women to pursue aviation careers. She was able to challenge traditional expectations of femininity and encouraged women to embrace their strength and independence.

16. She was a Technical Trailblazer

Bessie has had an incredible impact as a trailblazer. She was the first Black woman pilot in the world who demonstrated the viability of women in a field that is still dominated by men. She broke through racial limitations in aviation which inspired others to face technical challenges. Her story motivated the creation of scholarship programs and initiatives that were aimed at supporting diverse groups in pursuing aviation careers.

17. Bessie was a Barnstorming Queen

Her skills were unmatched amongst barnstormers. She mastered complex maneuvers such as wing walking, loops, and figure-eights. Her unparalleled skill and daring performances helped her earn the title of Barnstorming Queen.

18. She is a Global Inspiration for Aviators

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Bessie defied racial and gender discrimination to achieve her goals. She had incredible resilience in the face of setbacks which inspired aviators to persevere through their own challenges. Bessie’s story continues to motivate and empower new generations of aviators. She is a symbol of power and determination.

19. Coleman was more than a Pilot

She used her platform to speak up against racism and sexism as well as campaigning for equal opportunities for all. Her voice resonated with marginalized communities and helped advance the fight for social justice. Her pioneering spirit paved the way for future generations to challenge the status quo and explore new frontiers in the field. Bessie’s technical mastery is an inspiration to young people, especially women. She was able to preserve and live her dream.

20. Bessie has been Honored through Awards and Organizations

Her groundbreaking achievements make her unforgettable. In 2006, Bessie was inducted into the prestigious National Aviation Hall of Fame. The honor solidified her place among the most pioneering aviators in the country. The National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees established the “Bessie Coleman Award” and “Bessie Coleman Scholarship” to honor Black aviation professionals.