Each February, Black History Month offers an opportunity to celebrate the lives and legacies of pioneers who broke through racial and social barriers to shape American history. Among these trailblazers stands Bessie Coleman, a woman whose determination, courage, and skill helped redefine what was possible in the early days of aviation. 

Born in Atlanta, Texas, in 1892, Coleman was one of thirteen children in a working-class family. She grew up in an era when both racial segregation and gender discrimination limited opportunities for African Americans and women alike. But Coleman refused to let those boundaries define her future. After moving to Chicago at age 23, she worked as a manicurist and dreamed of flying. Inspired by stories her brothers told about women pilots in France, Coleman set her sights on becoming a pilot herself.

Denied entry to every flight school she applied to in the United States because she was Black and female, Coleman learned French and traveled to Europe to pursue her dream. In June 1921, she earned her international pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, becoming the first African American and Native American woman in the world to hold such credentials. Her accomplishment was groundbreaking, not only for her own career but also for generations of aspiring aviators who would follow.

Upon returning to the United States, Coleman quickly became a sensation at airshows across the country, including in Florida. Her dazzling stunts, loops, figure eights, and engine-off landings earned her the nicknames “Queen Bess” and “Brave Bess.” Crowds flocked to see her fearless performances, which often served as powerful demonstrations of Black excellence and resilience at a time when segregation was still the law of the land. Coleman refused to perform at venues that denied entry to Black spectators, using her fame to advocate for equality and representation in aviation.

Coleman’s life tragically ended at the age of 34 during a practice flight in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1926. Though her dream of opening a flight school for African Americans was never realized, her legacy lived on through the countless individuals she inspired to take to the skies.

Nearly 75 years later, that legacy was formally honored in Tampa. In September 2000, following a petition from the National Black Coalition of Federal Aviation Employees, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority unanimously voted to rename the Airport Service Road Bessie Coleman Boulevard. The dedication ensured that Coleman’s name would remain a lasting part of Florida’s aviation history, a fitting tribute to a woman who dared to soar when few others could.

Today, Bessie Coleman’s story continues to inspire pilots, innovators, and dreamers around the world. Her courage reminds everyone that progress often begins with those willing to challenge the impossible. As Tampa International Airport celebrates Black History Month, we honor “Queen Bess” not only for her skill and bravery but for her enduring commitment to equality and opportunity in the skies above and the world below.