1930 – African American Aviator Bessie Coleman Honored Posthumously

Though she died in 1926, Bessie Coleman—the first African American woman pilot—was posthumously honored by Black aviators on June 16, 1930, in a memorial flyover at Lincoln Cemetery in Chicago. This act of remembrance, organized by the Challenger Pilots’ Association, helped preserve her legacy at a time when Black contributions to aviation were routinely ignored. Coleman had earned her pilot’s license in France after being rejected by every American flight school due to her race and gender. She became a barnstorming sensation, thrilling crowds with daring stunts and speaking to youth about overcoming barriers. The June 16 flyover was one of the first tributes by a Black aviation group and symbolized her impact on generations of future pilots, including the Tuskegee Airmen. The annual tradition continued for decades, making June 16 a landmark in Black aviation history and honoring the skybound legacy of a fearless pioneer.