Black History Month Highlights Bessie Coleman

Transcript: “Brave Bessie”, “Queen Bess”, and “The Only Aviatrix in the World.” Bessie Coleman, who was born on January 26, 1892, learned from her brothers about female French pilots who had served with them during World War I. At age 23, deciding that she would rather be a pilot instead of a manicurist, she applied to flight schools across the U.S., but none would allow her to enroll. She decided to learn French in order to move overseas for her education. Bessie was then accepted and enrolled at Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France where she received her international pilot’s license on June 15, 1921. In 1922, Bessie performed the first public flight by an African American woman. She toured the country, giving lessons and performing flight shows. During a show in Texas, Bessie ran into arguments with the stadium managers who had planned for segregated areas. She refused to perform unless the entrances were desegregated, and the managers relented. On April 30, 1926, Bessi