Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman, the daughter of a poor, southern, African American family, became one of the most famous women and African Americans in aviation history. She was the first African American woman to hold a pilot license and the first to become a stage performer. Her daredevil stunts as a barnstormer thrilled audiences and inspired future generations of African American men and women to take to the skies.

Read full obituary from The New York Times →