Bessie coleman biography timeline
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Throughout her career, she would only perform at air exhibitions if the crowd was desegregated and permitted to enter through the same gates.
Upon saving her money and nearing her goal of opening a flight school for blacks in the United States, Bessie Coleman was tragically killed on April 30, 1926 during a rehearsal for an aerial show when the airplane she was in unexpectedly went into a dive and then a spin, subsequently throwing Coleman from the airplane at 2,000 feet.
However, during this era, aviation was still in its infancy, and opportunities for women and African Americans were severely limited.
In 1915 at age 23, Bessie moved to Chicago to live with her older brother. She became known as “Queen Bess.”
She grew up in a very racist community.
Bessie worked hard and saved her money to pay for industrial college, but her mother needed her help at home. However, she crashed it within a few days, suffering many broken bones.
She finally saved enough money to buy a second airplane, and this one did well.
Bessie died in April of 1926 while preparing for a stunt flight.
Her mechanic, William Wills, was piloting the plane, and the accident resulted from a mechanical failure.
Timeline of Bessie Coleman
1892: Bessie Coleman’s Birth
On January 26, 1892, Bessie Coleman was born in Atlanta, Texas, USA.
She was the youngest of thirteen children born to George and Susan Coleman, who were sharecroppers.
Growing up in a large, impoverished family, Bessie faced significant challenges and limited opportunities.
1915: Relocation to Chicago
In 1915, seeking better opportunities and a chance to escape the constraints of rural life and racial discrimination in the South, Bessie moved to Chicago, Illinois.
In her memory, the Challenger Pilots’ Association of Chicago established the Bessie Coleman Aero Club. She also became the first African American woman to hold a pilot’s license.
Robert Abbott encouraged Bessie to study flying abroad and later she received financial backing from a banker, Jesse Binga, and the Chicago Defender.
One day Bessie’s brother John, who had served in France during the war said, “I know something that French women do that you’ll never do…fly!” That remark prompted Coleman to travel to France, after teaching herself the language, and on June 15, 1921, she graduated the Federation Aeronautique Internationale becoming the first African American woman to achieve a pilot’s license.
In September of 1922, upon returning to the United States with the ultimate goal of establishing a flying school for African Americans, Bessie made her first appearance at an American airshow honoring veterans of the all-black 369th Infantry Regiment of the First World War.
Held at Curtiss Field on Long Island and sponsored by Robert Abbott and The Defender, the airshow billed Coleman as ‘’the world’s greatest woman flier.”
Weeks later, Bessie returned to Chicago and worked for the next several years as a ‘’barnstorming’’ pilot, performing riveting demonstrations of aerobatics including loops, figure eights, and near-ground dips.
Here, she received comprehensive flight training that included both theoretical knowledge and practical flight experience.
Bessie Coleman, born in 1892 in Atlanta, Texas, was a trailblazing African American aviator who overcame racial and gender barriers to become a pioneering figure in the world of aviation during the early 20th century.
Despite facing significant challenges, she earned her pilot’s license in France in 1922, becoming the first African American woman to achieve this distinction.
In 1995, she was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in the aviation industry.
This induction acknowledged her pioneering spirit, determination, and her role as a trailblazer for African American aviators and women in aviation.
Bessie Coleman’s remarkable journey and her contributions to aviation continue to inspire generations and are a testament to the power of determination and perseverance in the pursuit of dreams.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| January 26, 1892 | Bessie Coleman was born in Atlanta, Texas, USA, to George and Susan Coleman.
This determination and the support of her community would eventually lead her to take a groundbreaking step by traveling to France, where she would find the opportunity to receive formal aviation training and achieve her dream of becoming a pilot. 1921: Aviation Training in FranceIn 1921, Bessie Coleman embarked on a remarkable journey to fulfill her dream of becoming a pilot. The Bessie Coleman Aero Club was created to honor her legacy and to celebrate her achievements as one of the first African American women to hold a pilot’s license. The club aimed to inspire and support aspiring aviators, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. 1995: Induction into the National Aviation Hall of FameNearly seven decades after her passing, Bessie Coleman received posthumous recognition for her significant contributions to aviation. At age 12, Bessie was accepted into the Missionary Baptist Church School on a scholarship. She was celebrated as a pioneer. |
| 1922 | She furthers her dreams of flying Bessie returned to Europe to train as a stunt flyer so that she could make a living flying airplanes. |
| September 1922 | Betsy is praised for her skills When Bessie returned to America she flew in an air show and she was called "the world's greatest woman flyer." |
| 1923 | Bessie's flight takes a nose dive Bessie finally earned enough money to buy her own airplane. Flight schools in the United States did not accept African American students, especially women, which presented a significant barrier to pursuing her dream. Undeterred by these challenges, Bessie Coleman remained determined to become a pilot and began exploring alternative options to achieve her goal. Faced with racial and gender discrimination in the United States, she made the bold decision to move to France, where she believed she could find a flight school that would accept her as a student. Also Read: Bessie Coleman Facts Bessie enrolled in the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. |