Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman

Born: 1892

Died: 1926

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: Black/Native American

1 semester, Langston University; 1915, Burnham School of Black Culture; 1921, Ecole d Aviation des Freres Caudron

Field of Study: Civil Aviation

Institution/Corporation: none

Degrees & Memberships: none

Awards: 1995, USPS issued a 32 cent stamp with her picture; 2001, National Women s Hall of Fame; 2006, National Aviation Hall of Fame; 2013, #14 on flying Magazine s list of 51 Heroes of Aviation; 2014, International Air & Space Hall of Fame; 2017, Google Doodle; 2021, International Astronomical Union named a mountain/volcano on Pluto after her; 2023, US Mint honored her with an American Women Quarter; Texas Aviation Hall of Fame

Achievements: first African American and Native American woman to hold a pilot license 1921; 1st Black person to earn an international pilot s license; trained in France, Germany & The Netherlands; 1922, 1st public flight by an African American woman; refused to appear in any air show Blacks were not allowed to attend or had to use a separate entrance