CHICAGO — On June 15, 2021, luminaries from aviation, entertainment, and sports will gather at the DuSable Museum, the oldest African American museum in the United States, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bessie Coleman earning her pilot’s certificate.
The event, organized by AeroStar Avion Institute and hosted by DuSable Museum, is designed to raise funds for educational programming for youth from underserved communities to pursue aviation careers.
It was 100 years ago when Bessie Coleman, born in Texas and raised on the South Side of Chicago, was smitten with flight. But she could not pursue her dream to become a pilot in the U.S. because of her race. That didn’t stop her. On June 15, 1921, she became the first African American and Native American pilot in the world by earning a pilot’s certificate from the French Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
“Bessie Coleman is relevant today,” said Tammera L. Holmes, founder and CEO of The AeroStar Avion Institute. “A century ago, Bessie was shut out of aviation because she was Black, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Still today, most African Americans are not aware of the many opportunities for aviation careers and do not have access to pursue these opportunities. As of 2019, only 3% of commercial pilots are African American and less for Latinos. Bessie can still inspire the next generation to pursue their dream, especially since the industry is now demanding more diversity as evidenced by United’s recent announcement working with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).”
The 100th anniversary of Coleman’s achievement also comes as the aviation and aerospace industries face acute workforce shortages, with Boeing reporting a global industry need of 763,000 pilots and 739,000 aviation maintenance technicians by 2039, she noted.
Without broadening recruitment beyond traditional white, male pipelines, the aviation industry will not be able to meet its workforce needs, according to AeroStar Avion Institute officials.
“That is why AeroStar Avion Institute developed K-12 aviation education not only to expose youngsters in underserved communities to popular aviation careers like pilots and mechanics, but prepare them for the many STEM career opportunities in the industry including architects, engineers, computer scientists, graphic artists, entrepreneurs, tradesmen, and even utility workers,” officials noted.
“If a child has an interest in STEM, there is a place for them in aviation and there is no better time to pursue those interests than now,” Holmes continued. “The entire aviation and aerospace industry is actively working on diversity, equity, and inclusion as they search for the talent they need. But we still must prepare our children to meet the workforce needs of the future and that is what this celebration is all about — to raise money to provide funding to children from underserved communities to access aviation education and take their first step on a pathway to quality, high-paying aviation careers. Our goal is to educate and train 10,000 black and brown youth over the next 10 years, and we are using Bessie’s anniversary to inspire the next 100 years of diversity and inclusion in aviation.”
The event kicks off with a Youth AeroSTEM Expo introducing 50 to 100 youngsters to Chicago-area aviation and STEM organizations. It then launches into a reception, a video of Bessie Coleman, comments by Kellee Edwards, host of Travel Channel’s “Mysterious Islands” and a pilot, and 11-year-old actor Chase W. Dillon, who stars in Amazon Prime’s series “Underground Railroad.”
Capping the festivities will be the distribution of Bessie Coleman Awards to African Americans who have demonstrated an impact and aptitude for aviation, social justice, and education.
Organizers also are coordinating events at museums around the country throughout the year, providing local communities with awareness and access to local aviation and STEM education programs.
I am so happy that we as a people can keep the legacy of Bessie Coleman, the first Female African American pilot alive. Here in Western Tennessee, Pilots all around will be remembering her legacy along with other great African American pilots who struggle on getting their license. God bless us all.
I’m glad she is getting the recognition she deserves… Truth be known, all women, wanting to fly or serve in any military fashion ran into lots of road blocks, put up by our male counterparts, in government. Even the W.AC.C.S/W A C S, WAVES, SPARS, wanting to help win WWII, were continually blocked, when they truly wanted to serve in they’re respective branch of the military. The only ones who were, at least embraced, immediately as one of they’re own were the lady Marines. From the get go, they were marines, and were not given some acronym to go by. Nurses were welcomed with open arms, in every time frame. Read ( “A FEW GOOD WOMEN”) Gives a good picture of how hard it was to want to be part of something greater then yourself, if you were female..
https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/the-unrecognized-first-79496373/
A lot can be lost in just 100 short years. Ten years ago, the Smithsonian Institute published that Emory Conrad Malick was the first. Trained in San Diego (which is not in France) and licensed in March 1912, which would have been 9 years before Bessie Coleman. But who’s counting? Happy landings, all.
Is it at least factual that she couldn’t find anyone in the US to teach her to fly because she was an African American woman? And/or that with the help of a sponsor, she was able to learn enough French to be accepted (by anyone) in France as a student pilot? If so, I will continue to teach her story and sing her praises. Thank you for the opportunity to “fine tune” my facts about “Queen Bess”.
Also, there were at least one African American pilot(s) of the Laffette Esqadrille (Americans flying for the French air corps) in WW1 (pre-licensing). She most definitely and deservedly is the first known Female African American licensed pilot. She has an awesome life story.
Her name and more facts please? Doc
As in the post by Sam above says, it was a Lafayette Escadrille flyer, and his name was Eugene Bullard. As an African -American, his hard to find biography “The Black Swallow Of Death”, was quite the inspirational tome for me. And enjoyable and informative read should you find a copy.
I’m curious, the United States began licensing pilots as a result of the Air Commerce Act of 1926 and the first ever US pilot certificate, Pilot’s License No. 1 was issued in April 1927. I am thrilled to know that Bessie Coleman was able to chase her dream and become a pilot. Unfortunately the article seems to promote the false idea that she had to obtain a license through the then de facto worldwide authority on aviation licensing, French Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (as my mother’s grandfather did) due to the US government excluding her because of race. She did indeed face many issues due to institutionalized racial bigotry promoted by one side of the US political spectrum but the attainment of a US federal government pilot’s license was not even possible in 1921 since Congress had not yet enacted legislation to do so. Her story is a genuine and triumphant one and me being the son of a dark skinned immigrant to the US and a flier myself I honor and respect Bessie Coleman’s achievements. As such I feel her story should be kept as factual as possible, especially when those facts frame her life as one of special interest and well deserved focus.
Hi Victor, my search on this topic led me to the “Women in Aviation” web site. It appears that there was some form of aviation licensing to be had prior to 1926 as the site mentioned several women had obtained a pilot license.
https://www.wai.org/pioneers/100womenscript