BESSIE COLEMAN TONIGHT. BESSIE WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN IN NATIVE AMERICAN TO RECEIVE HER PILOTS LICENSE HER GREAT NIECE GIGI SPOKE IT TONIGHT’S EVENT GIGI LOOKED BACK ON BESSIE’S LIFE AND SPOKE ABOUT HER ENDEAVORS OF TRYING TO BRING STEM IN AVIATION INTO KIDS LIVES. WELL BESSIE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN NATIVE AMERICAN WOMAN TO GET HER INTERNATIONAL PITLO LICENSE IN THE WORLD. SHE RECEIVED HER LICENSEN I 1921 TWO YEARS BEFORE AMELIA EARHART. SO MY GREAT AUNT SHE HAD TOO G WITH THE PARIS FRANCE IN ORDER TO GET HER POTIL LICENSE BECAUSE IN AMERICA NO ONE WOULD ACCEPT HER INTO AVIATION SCHOOL. IT’S WHAT SHE WANTED TO DO BECAUSE SHE FELT SHE WAS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. SHE WANTED TO COME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES AND SHE OPEN UP AVIATION SCHOOL TO TEACH HER PEOPLE HOW TO FLY AIRPLANES AND SHE DID A LOT OF AIR. WAS HER FIRST AIR SHOW WAS ON LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK. TBU ON TIMELY DEATH SHE WASN’T ABLE TO DO IT. SHE HER LAST AIR SHOW WAS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 1926 AND SHE WASN I A PLANE CRASH. SHE FAILED 10,000 FEET TO HER DEATH, BUT WHAT MADE A MESSY SO REMARKLEAB WAS HER DETERMINATION HER STRIVE AND NEVER TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER. AND SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. STRIVE FOR YOUR LEVELS DON’T LET NOBODY TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN AND YOU CANNOT DO WHAT AN INCREDIBLE WOMAN GIGI GETS INTO CHARACTER. SHE EVEN WORE A COSTUME DURING HER PRESENTATION TODAY. SHE CALLED FOR KIDS TBEO SOMETHING THEY CAN BE PROUD OF AND SHE SAYS S
Bessie Coleman, pioneering pilot, now has her own Barbie
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Updated: 6:25 PM EST Jan 25, 2023
Related video above: Arkansas Air and Military Museum celebrates Bessie Coleman What does Bessie Coleman have in common with Tina Turner, Jane Goodall and Madam C.J. Walker? As of Wednesday, it's a Barbie doll.Barbie officially announced the launch of its Bessie Coleman doll on Wednesday, as part of its "Inspiring Women" series, in honor of both her Jan. 26 birthday and Black History Month's imminent beginning. Coleman was the first Black and Native American female pilot, and her success inspired other pilots of color to earn their wings."Keeping Bessie's legacy alive has always been a labor of love for my family, and we are proud to recognize her determination and accomplishments for Black women in aviation and continue to share my great aunt's pioneering spirit with fans of all ages," said Gigi Coleman, Bessie Coleman's great-niece, said in a statement.Barbie will also partner with Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars -- a nonprofit founded by Gigi Coleman -- that educates students and introduces them to careers in aviation, as well as the nonprofit Girls Write Now.Coleman, born in 1892 to sharecroppers in Texas, first became interested in flying while living in Chicago.Because of her race and gender, flight schools in the U.S. wouldn't admit Coleman -- but that didn't stop her. Coleman went international, learning French and moving to Paris to attend aviation school. In 1921, she became the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license, and began performing aerial stunts back in the states.But her career was cut short. During a practice for a May Day celebration in Jacksonville, Florida, her plane -- operated by her mechanic -- flipped. Coleman, who was not wearing a seatbelt, plummeted to her death. She was 34."We hope through this doll more people will discover Bessie's story and be inspired," Gigi Coleman said.
Related video above: Arkansas Air and Military Museum celebrates Bessie Coleman
What does Bessie Coleman have in common with Tina Turner, Jane Goodall and Madam C.J. Walker? As of Wednesday, it's a Barbie doll.
Barbie officially announced the launch of its Bessie Coleman doll on Wednesday, as part of its "Inspiring Women" series, in honor of both her Jan. 26 birthday and Black History Month's imminent beginning. Coleman was the first Black and Native American female pilot, and her success inspired other pilots of color to earn their wings.
"Keeping Bessie's legacy alive has always been a labor of love for my family, and we are proud to recognize her determination and accomplishments for Black women in aviation and continue to share my great aunt's pioneering spirit with fans of all ages," said Gigi Coleman, Bessie Coleman's great-niece, said in a statement.
Barbie will also partner with Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars -- a nonprofit founded by Gigi Coleman -- that educates students and introduces them to careers in aviation, as well as the nonprofit Girls Write Now.
Coleman, born in 1892 to sharecroppers in Texas, first became interested in flying while living in Chicago.
Because of her race and gender, flight schools in the U.S. wouldn't admit Coleman -- but that didn't stop her. Coleman went international, learning French and moving to Paris to attend aviation school. In 1921, she became the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license, and began performing aerial stunts back in the states.
But her career was cut short. During a practice for a May Day celebration in Jacksonville, Florida, her plane -- operated by her mechanic -- flipped. Coleman, who was not wearing a seatbelt, plummeted to her death. She was 34.
"We hope through this doll more people will discover Bessie's story and be inspired," Gigi Coleman said.
