Bessie Coleman was a pioneering African American aviator and the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license. Born in 1892 in Texas, Coleman faced racial and gender discrimination in the United States and was unable to find a flight school that would accept her due to her identity. Determined to achieve her dream of becoming a pilot, she moved to France in 1920 to attend flight school. In 1921, she earned her pilot's license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, becoming the first Black woman and first Native American woman to do so.

Upon her return to the United States, Coleman became a celebrated and groundbreaking figure in aviation. She performed in air shows and stunned audiences with her daredevil stunts and aerial acrobatics. Coleman used her platform to advocate for racial equality and inspire other Black women to pursue their dreams.

Tragically, Coleman's life was cut short in 1926 when she died in a plane crash during a rehearsal flight. Despite her untimely death, Bessie Coleman's legacy as a trailblazer in aviation and a symbol of perseverance and determination lives on in Black history.