Bessie Coleman: A Pioneering Pilot
In 1892, Bessie Coleman was born in a very small town called Atlanta, Texas (It’s not to be confused with Atlanta, Georgia, which is a very big town!). Bessie was the 10th of 13 children. When she was six, she went to school in a one-room schoolhouse where she was a very good student, especially at math. But each year, her school schedule was interrupted because she and the other children had to pick cotton.
In search of a better life, Bessie eventually moved to Chicago, Illinois, where she found work and began pursuing her dream: to become a pilot. It seemed like an impossible dream, but she didn’t give up. And when she finally earned her International Pilot’s License in 1921, she became the first woman of African-American and Native-American descent to achieve that honor.
Bessie Coleman dared to dream big dreams, and her dreams came true. You can dream big, too. And if Bessie were here today, that’s exactly what she’d tell you to do.
Dream Big!
“Dreams, if they are any good, are always a little crazy.”
Ray Charles
“In the long run we only hit what we aim at. Aim high.”
Henry David Thoreau
“Dreams don’t come true by magic. It takes determination and hard work.
Colin Powell
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Walt Disney
“The dream is the truth.”
Zora Neal Hurston
About Texas
It’s a Fact: Texas is the second-largest state, both in area and in population. Only Alaska is bigger, and only California has more people.
It’s a Fact: Bessie Coleman was born in Atlanta, Texas, but she grew up in Waxahachie, Texas. She lived in Waxahachie until she was 23.
It’s a Fact: Texas is called the “Lone Star State.” It got its nickname because, when the Republic of Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836, it flew a flag with one star on it. By the way: the word “lone” means “alone”, or “by itself.” And, that single star on the original Texas flag was, indeed, a “lone star.”
It’s a Fact:The capital of Texas is Austin. The largest city in Texas is Houston. Other huge cities in the state are San Antonia, and Dallas-Fort Worth.
It’s a Fact: The abbreviation for Texas is TX.
Fun Fact: The first woman of African-American and Native-American descent to earn a pilot’s license was Bessie Coleman. She earned it in 1921.
Fun Fact: The first person to fly nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean was Charles Lindbergh. He did it in 1927. His plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D. C.
Fun Fact: The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean was Amelia Earhart. She did it in 1932.
Fun Fact: The first person to fly a plane faster than the speed of sound was Chuck Yeager. He did it in 1947.
Just for fun,
Did Bessie Coleman leave Waxahahchie, Texas when she was 13, 23, or 33?
Was Charles Lindbergh the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, or the Indian Ocean?
Was Chuck Yeager the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound or the first person to fly faster than the speed of light?
What's the capital of Texas? Is it Houston, Dallas, or Austin?
Here's a Riddle for You:
What kind of chocolate do they sell at the airport?
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