Bessie the Brave

Years before she became a pilot, Bessie’s brother had told her stories about women who flew airplanes. He had seen them in a country called France.

Back then, almost no women were pilots. The few women who flew were brave. Bessie knew that she was just as brave. She dreamed of being a pilot.

At the time, Bessie did people’s nails! It was going to take a lot of work to become a pilot.

But Bessie was not afraid of hard work. She had 12 brothers and sisters. They grew up helping their parents pick cotton in Texas. Bessie would work as hard as she could to become a pilot.

In Bessie’s time, almost no women were pilots. But her brother had told her that there were women who flew airplanes in France. France is a country in Europe.

It was dangerous to fly planes long ago. Planes were made of wood. They did not have roofs!

But Bessie was brave. She wanted to be a pilot anyway.

It was going to take a lot of hard work. But she was not afraid of hard work.

Years before Bessie became a pilot, her brother had told her stories about French women who flew airplanes.

Back then, almost no women were pilots, and the few women who flew were extremely brave. Bessie knew she was just as brave, and she dreamed of one day becoming a pilot.

At the time, Bessie did people’s nails! It was going to take a lot of work to become a pilot.

But Bessie was not afraid of hard work. She had 12 brothers and sisters, and they grew up helping their parents pick cotton in Texas. Bessie would work as hard as she could to become a pilot.

Bessie Coleman wanted to go to flight school. She asked flight schools across the country if she could sign up. They all told her no. Bessie was African American, Native American, and a woman. No one wanted to give her a chance.

Still, Bessie did not give up. She had an idea. Maybe she could learn to be a pilot in France. She could be like the women from her brother’s stories. It was worth a try.

Bessie saved up her money for a ticket to France. She also learned French. It took a year, but she did it. Off she went!

Bessie Coleman wanted to go to flight school. But flight schools said no. Bessie was African American. She was Native American. She was a woman. No one wanted to give her a chance.

Bessie had an idea. She would learn to be a pilot in France.

Bessie learned French. She went to France!

Bessie Coleman wanted to go to flight school. She asked flight schools across the country if she could sign up, but they all told her no. Bessie was African American, Native American, and a woman, and no one wanted to give her a chance.

Still, Bessie did not give up. She had an idea­—maybe she could study to become a pilot in France. She could be like the women from her brother’s stories. It was worth a try.

Bessie saved up her money for a ticket to France, and she also learned French. It took a year, but she did it. Off she went!

In November 1920, Bessie left for France. She got into a flight school there. She learned to fly from French pilots. They showed her everything she needed to know about flying planes.

It did not matter to the pilots in France that Bessie was an African American and Native American woman. What mattered was that she was brave. She had to be. Flying was very dangerous.

Airplanes did not have roofs back then. Pilots sat in the open air. They could get really hurt when flying. They could even die. It was scary, but Bessie didn’t quit.

On June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman became a pilot. She could now fly an airplane anywhere in the world.

In November 1920, Bessie went to flight school in France. She learned to fly.

On June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman became a pilot.

In November 1920, Bessie  was accepted at a flight school in France. She learned to fly from French pilots who taught her everything she needed to know about flying planes.

It did not matter to the pilots in France that Bessie was an African American and Native American woman. What mattered was that she was brave. She had to be. Flying was very dangerous.

Airplanes did not have roofs back then, and pilots sat in the open air. They could get badly hurt when flying—they could even die. It was scary, but Bessie didn’t quit.

On June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman became a pilot. Now she could fly an airplane anywhere in the world.

When Bessie came back to the United States, she was a star. She was the first African American and Native American woman pilot in the world.

Bessie traveled around the country. She was a barnstormer. Barnstormers were pilots who did all kinds of daring tricks in the air. Daring means “risky” and “bold.”

People would come from all over to watch Bessie barnstorm in air shows. She did loop the loops! She walked on the wings of her airplane! Over time, she even learned how to jump from her plane and use a parachute to float down to the ground.Everyone began calling her “Brave Bessie.” She was living her dream.

But Bessie was also brave in another way. Once, she was going to fly over a big stadium. There, Black people and White people had to enter through different gates. She knew that was wrong. Bessie said she would not fly unless everyone came in through the same gate.

She almost lost the job. But she did not back down. And she won. Everyone entered through the same gate that day.

She was the first African American and Native American female pilot in the world.

Bessie traveled around the country. She was a barnstormer. Barnstormers were pilots who did all kinds of tricks in the air.

People would come from all over to watch her. She did loop the loops! She walked on the wings of her airplane! Everyone began calling her “Brave Bessie.”

But Bessie was also brave in another way. She fought for all people to be treated the same.

Once, she was going to fly over a big stadium. There, Black people and White people had to enter through different gates. She knew that was wrong. Bessie said she would not fly unless everyone came in through the same gate.

She almost lost
the job. But she did not back down. And she won. Everyone went in through the same gate that day.

When Bessie came back to the United States, she was famous—she was the first African American and Native American female pilot in the world.

Bessie traveled around the country. She was a barnstormer, a type of pilot who did all kinds of daring tricks in the air.

People would come from all  over to watch Bessie barnstorm in air shows. She did loop the loops! She bravely walked on the wings of her airplane! Over time, she even learned how to jump from her plane and use a parachute to float down to the ground. Everyone began calling her “Brave Bessie.” She was living her dream.

But Bessie was also brave in another way. Once, she was going to fly over a big stadium. At the stadium, Black people and White people were required to enter through different gates. Knowing this was wrong, Bessie said she would not fly unless everyone was allowed to come through the same gate.

She almost lost the job, but she did not back down. And she won. Everyone entered through the same gate that day.

In 1923, Bessie had earned enough money to buy her own plane. She went to California to pick it up. She agreed to fly in an air show while she was there.

When she was practicing, something went wrong. She lost control of the plane. It crashed. Bessie was pulled from the wreck. She had a broken leg and some cracked ribs, but she lived.

It took months for Bessie to get better. Later, brave Bessie Coleman flew again!

Her whole life, Bessie was brave. She followed her dreams all the way to France. And she stood up for what was right while doing daring tricks high up in the sky.

In 1923, Bessie was practicing flying. Something went wrong. She lost control of the plane. It crashed. Bessie had a broken leg and some cracked ribs, but she lived.

It took months for Bessie to get better. Later, brave Bessie Coleman flew again!

Her whole life, Bessie was brave. She followed her dreams all the way to France. And she stood up for what was right.

By 1923, Bessie had earned enough money to buy her own plane. She went to California to pick it up, and while there she agreed to perform in an air show.

While practicing, something went terribly wrong. Bessie lost control of the plane and crashed. She was pulled from the wreck with a broken leg and some cracked ribs, but she lived.

It took months for Bessie to get better. Later, brave Bessie Coleman flew again!

Her whole life, Bessie was brave. She followed her dreams all the way to France, and she stood up for what was right while doing daring tricks high up in the sky.

People still honor Bessie, even though she died long ago. In 1995, she was put on a stamp!