Happy Birthday, Bessie Coleman
Happy Birthday to pioneer Bessie Coleman. Coleman holds two very significant firsts: she was the first African-American woman pilot and the first African-American to hold an international pilot’s license.
Coleman was tenth of 13 children. Born in 1892 in Texas, she was part of a family who were not strangers to racial barriers and overt racism in the United States, as evidenced by she and her family picking cotton. Her father (part Cherokee) was finally fed up with the racism in Texas and returned to “Indian Territory,” what is now Oklahoma.
In 1920, Bessie Coleman went to France and learned to fly in Paris. She did a bit of traveling through Europe and learned her craft as a pilot. Upon returning to the United States, she became known as “Queen Bess.”
Upon her death in 1926, people like the amazing Ida B. Wells attended her funeral.
Glad to find your post on Bessie Coleman. I painted her in a series of Women who affected transportation. Will put the painting on my post soon. Will follow your work.
I would love to see your paintings. Would you mind either including a link for people to follow, or let me do a post on your work?
Nikki Giovanni sp? the poet. Came to speak at our school today. It was truly amazing. I nominate her for a hero of the week. She was good friends with Rosa Parks and her story of what actually happened that day blew my mind.
Oh my god! I love Nikki Giovanni!!!!! Thanks for the great nomination!
I think I’m going to save our Nikki Giovanni for Black History Month. I celebrated one person everyday last year during Black History Month.
Reblogged this on LE ARTISTE BOOTS.