On June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman was admitted into the Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation in France after being denied entry into American flight schools due to her race and gender. Determined to fly, Coleman learned French and moved to Europe to chase her dream. She became the first African American woman and first Native American to earn a pilot’s license. Known as “Queen Bess,” she toured the U.S. performing airshows and inspiring Black audiences at a time when aviation was still new. Coleman refused to perform at segregated venues, linking her celebrity to a civil rights stance. Her groundbreaking aviation career paved the way for future Black pilots, including the Tuskegee Airmen.
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