Venturer Spotlight: Bessie Coleman
The Venturer Spotlight is our ongoing series highlighting women whose stories deserve to be told, as often and loudly as possible.
These are women who’ve chosen to live passionately, and to continue to question, challenge, and venture out with bravery and curiosity in whatever field or circumstance they found themselves in. These are our role models, and the women we want to be when we grow up.
HERE’S WHY WE LOVE HER…
At age 24, she was determined to become a pilot. She got her quest sponsored in a local newspaper and hopped a ship to France to find an aviation school after no one in the U.S. would train her.
Just a year later, she became the world’s first African-American and Native American woman to obtain a pilot’s license!
She returned to the U.S. as a sensation and toured the country as Queen Bess; Daredevil Aviator. She took her stunt flying airshow across the country, and flatly refused to participate in events that didn’t welcome African-Americans.
WANT TO DIVE DEEPER?
Here are a few ways you can learn more about her…
READ
WATCH
A wonderful biopic of her story was made in 2018 and is available on Amazon Prime. You can also enjoy her thoroughly entertaining segment on Drunk History.
You might also like these posts…
Like this article? You’ll love our weekly email digest!