Bessie Coleman African American Woman Pilot
By Jone Johnson Lewis
Bessie Coleman, a stunt pilot, was a pioneer in aviation. She was the first African American woman with a pilot's license, the first African American woman to fly a plane, and the first American with an international pilot's license. She lived from January 26, 1892 (some sources give 1893) to April 30, 1926
Early Life
Bessie Coleman was born in Atlanta, Texas, in 1892, tenth of thirteen children. The family soon moved to a farm near Dallas. The family worked the land as sharecroppers, and Bessie Coleman worked in the cotton fields.
Her father, George Coleman, moved to Indian Territory, Oklahoma, in 1901, where he had rights, based on having three Indian grandparents. His African American wife, Susan, with five of their children still at home, refused to go with him. She supported the children by picking cotton and taking in laundry and ironing.
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Posted By: Dea. Ron Gray Sr.
Saturday, April 30th 2022 at 11:01AM
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