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At a time when opportunities for women (and especially black women) were limited, Bessie Coleman's achievements were unique. In the early 1910s, when aviation was still relatively new, and few women were learning to fly, Bessie became one of the few black women (or men, for that matter) to take flying lessons. Given that America was still segregated, she had to go to France in order to find a school that would take her on as a student. Her studies included learning to pilot a plane and also do stunt flying. In 1921, she passed her tests and became the first American woman of color to be a licensed pilot. (Some sources say she was the first black person of either gender to be a licensed pilot.)

By 1922, she began performing at U.S. air shows, gaining considerable attention; she also gained considerable criticism, since it was unusual for a black woman to be a pilot, and Bessie Coleman was also very outspoken about racism in the society. Throughout the early-to-mid 1920s, she continued to perform and her goal was to open her own school for training aviators. It was a dream she never fulfilled, because in April 1926, she was killed during a flying exhibition. Millions mourned her death.

Today, she is still an inspiration to many young women, especially those who want to fly. She can be seen on a U.S. postage stamp, and among the posthumous awards she won was induction into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame.

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13y ago

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