Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman was born January 26, 1892 in Texas. She was one of 13 children in a hardworking African American and Native American family. Bessie eventually joined the Great Migration to Chicago in 1915, seeking a better future.

A Spark Ignited in Chicago

By age 27, working as a manicurist in segregated Chicago, she was ready for more. When her brother teased her with tales of French women pilots, she declared, “That’s it… You just called it for me!”

Breaking Barriers Abroad

Determined to fly when no U.S. schools would accept a Black woman, Bessie learned French, traveled to France, and earned an international pilot’s license on June 15, 1921 — not just the first African-American woman to hold a pilot’s license but the first woman ever to hold an international pilot’s license.

Daring Feats and Advocacy

After returning to the United States, Bessie became a popular and daring barnstormer and airshow performer — known for aerobatics and parachute jumps — and used her fame to encourage Black Americans to pursue aviation. She refused to perform at events that barred Black spectators and planned to open a flight school for Black aviators.

Final Flight and Lasting Tribute

Coleman toured and performed across the U.S. and visited Florida frequently. Tragically, while preparing for a Jacksonville airshow, she died on April 30, 1926, when the airplane in which she was a passenger went into a spin. She was thrown from the aircraft and killed. Funeral services were held in Florida before her body was returned to Chicago, where thousands paid tribute. A plaque now marks the Jacksonville site linked to her final flight.

Legacy of a Trailblazer

Bessie’s incredible legacy of courage and determination still shines brightly generations after her passing – an inspiration to all who dare to follow their dreams.