Some Texans dream big. Bessie Coleman dreamed sky-high. Long before most people had ever seen an airplane up close, this small-town Texas girl decided she was going to fly one. Then she went out and did exactly that, breaking barriers that the world said were unbreakable.
Here’s the story of one of the most fearless Texans to ever leave the ground, plus the places in the Lone Star State where you can still honor her today.
Growing Up in Texas
Bessie Coleman was born on January 26, 1892, in Atlanta, Texas, a small town in the northeast corner of the state. She was the tenth of 13 children. When she was about two years old, her family moved to Waxahachie, south of Dallas, where they worked as sharecroppers.
Life was not easy. Bessie walked miles each day to attend a segregated one-room school, and she helped her family in the cotton fields. But she loved learning, especially math, and she had a determination that would carry her a long way from Texas.
From Chicago to France
In 1915, at 23, Bessie moved to Chicago to live with her brothers. While working there, she heard stories from soldiers returning from World War I about flying, and she was hooked.
There was one big problem. No American flight school would accept a Black woman. So Bessie did what any determined Texan would do: she found another way. She learned French, saved her money, and sailed to France in 1920 to train.
On June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman earned her pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. She became the first African American woman and the first Native American to hold a pilot’s license.
“Queen Bess” of the Airshows
Back in the United States, Bessie became a barnstorming star. Her first American airshow took place in September 1922 on Long Island, New York, and crowds soon came out to watch her loops, dives, and daring stunts. Fans called her “Queen Bess.”
She dreamed of opening a flight school so that other Black Americans could learn to fly, and she used her fame to speak to audiences about aviation. She was known to refuse to perform at events that would not admit Black spectators.
Bessie’s life was cut short in 1926, when she died in an airplane accident in Florida at just 34 years old. But her legacy took flight, inspiring generations of pilots who came after her.
Where to Honor Bessie Coleman in Texas
Atlanta, Texas
Her birthplace celebrates her proudly. The Atlanta Regional History Museum includes a reproduction of her biplane and memorabilia about her life, and a Texas Historical Marker stands outside. The road to the town’s municipal airport is named Bessie Coleman Drive. Check the museum’s hours before you visit.
Waxahachie
The town where Bessie grew up named Bessie Coleman Boulevard in her honor. Waxahachie is also known for its beautiful historic courthouse square, making it an easy and charming day trip from Dallas or Fort Worth.
Bessie Coleman’s Lasting Legacy
Bessie Coleman’s honors keep piling up, nearly a century after her historic flights. The U.S. Postal Service featured her on a stamp in 1995. She has been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the National Aviation Hall of Fame. In 2023, she appeared on a U.S. quarter as part of the American Women Quarters Program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was Bessie Coleman from?
Bessie Coleman was born in Atlanta, Texas, and grew up in Waxahachie, Texas.
Why is Bessie Coleman famous?
She was the first African American woman and the first Native American to earn a pilot’s license, which she received in France in 1921.
Where can I learn about Bessie Coleman in Texas?
Visit the Atlanta Regional History Museum in Atlanta, Texas, and see the historical marker outside. Waxahachie also honors her with Bessie Coleman Boulevard.
Dream Big, Texas
Bessie Coleman once had nothing but a big dream and the grit to chase it. The next time you look up at a plane crossing the Texas sky, give a little nod to Queen Bess, the Texas girl who showed the world that no ceiling is too high.
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