February is Black History Month, a special time to remember and celebrate the achievements of important Black figures in history. One amazing person we celebrate is Bessie Coleman, who became a pilot and inspired many people by breaking barriers.
Bessie Coleman was born on January 26, 1892, in Atlanta, Texas. She was one of twelve children in her family. Her father was part Native American and African-American, and her mother was African-American. Bessie grew up during a time when there was a lot of racial discrimination, which made life challenging. But she was strong and determined, working hard to save money for her education.
Bessie didn’t stay in school for long; she left after one semester and moved to Chicago to live with her brothers. There, she heard exciting stories about pilots from World War I and dreamed of flying herself. However, at that time, it was very difficult for women, especially African-American women, to become pilots.
Even though people, including her brothers, doubted her, Bessie didn’t give up. Her brothers teased her about how women in France could fly, which motivated her even more. She applied to flight schools in the United States but was rejected because of her race and gender.
Determined to succeed, Bessie learned French and moved to France, where women were allowed to fly. She completed her aviation training there and became the first African-American woman and the first Native American to earn a pilot’s license.
After returning to the United States, Bessie wanted to own a plane and teach others to fly. She became popular for her speeches about aviation and breaking racial and gender barriers. Bessie was against segregation and refused to speak at places that discriminated against African-Americans. She believed everyone should have equal opportunities and encouraged both African-Americans and women to pursue aviation.
Sadly, Bessie’s life ended too soon in April 1926 when she died in an accident while preparing for an air show. Despite her early death, Bessie’s legacy lives on. She is remembered for her amazing piloting skills and her determination to succeed against all odds.
Bessie Coleman’s story teaches us about the power of perseverance and how one person can make a big difference in challenging unfair rules. As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor her contributions to aviation and her role as a trailblazer for future generations. Her legacy continues to inspire those who dream big and break barriers to follow their passions.
Build Your Own Paper Airplane: Create a simple paper airplane and imagine you are a pilot like Bessie Coleman. Try different designs and see which one flies the farthest. Discuss with your friends or family why some designs might work better than others. Think about how Bessie had to learn and experiment to become a great pilot.
Map Bessie’s Journey: Use a world map to trace Bessie Coleman’s journey from Texas to Chicago and then to France. Discuss why she had to travel to France to achieve her dream. Talk about how travel and learning new languages can open up opportunities, just like it did for Bessie.
Role Play a Speech: Pretend you are Bessie Coleman giving a speech about following your dreams and breaking barriers. Write a short speech and present it to your class or family. Think about what Bessie might have said to encourage others to pursue their passions despite challenges.
