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Bessie Coleman was a pioneer of aviation.  The first African American woman to earn a pilot's license in 1921.

Bessie earned money as a "barnstorming" stunt flier drawing thousands of people to see her daredevil flying.  She was fearless and forward thinking.  A celebrity of her time.

"Well, because I knew we had no aviators, neither men nor women, and I knew the Race needed to be represented along this racist important line, so I thought it my duty to risk my life to learn aviating and to encourage flying among men and women of the Race who are so far behind the white men in this special line, I made up my mind to try. I tried and was successful." – Bessie Coleman, Excerpt from "Aviatrix Must Sign Life Away to Learn Trade," Chicago Defender, October 8, 1921

Listen as Kit and Sherlock give you an overview of her amazing life.

Learn more about Bessie at these websites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Coleman

https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/bessie-coleman

https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/bessie-coleman

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https://www.instagram.com/badass_women_of_america/