More than 100 years ago, airplane travel was brand-new. Not many people knew how to fly. Almost all of the early pilots were men. In 1921, Bessie Coleman decided to follow her dream of flying. She became the first African American woman to fly an airplane.
Bessie was born in 1893 in Texas. She was one of 13 children in a poor family. Bessie’s mother wanted her daughter to succeed. So, she encouraged Bessie to get an education. Long ago, not many African American girls went to school. Bessie walked four miles each way to a one-room school. Bessie studied hard. She loved to read. She became very good at math.
Bessie wanted to go to college. She had to save money to pay for it. When she was 23 years old, she moved to Chicago to find a good job. While working in the city, she discovered what she really wanted to fly.
After Bessie saved enough money, in 1921, she traveled to France to learn flying. Bessie was a good flight student. Her teachers said she had a natural talent for flying. Bessie flew in a small biplane. It had two pairs of wings, one above the other. In less than a year, Bessie got her license to fly.
Bessie returned to the United States and worked as a barnstormer. A barnstormer was a pilot who did stunts, or tricks. Bessie flew planes upside down and close to the ground. She even jumped out of planes wearing a parachute. The parachute let her float safely to the ground. Thousands of people watch Bessie show. They started to call her Brave Bessie. Bessie became famous for her fearless flying.
In 2006, Bessie Coleman was given one of the greatest honors a pilot can receive. She became part of the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Activities:
1. Why was Bessie Coleman called Brave Bessie? Discuss with your partners in simple English.
2. What were Bessie Coleman’s dreams? What did she do
for her dreams? What is your dream? How do you plan to realize it? Watch videos
to learn more about Bessie Coleman.
