Our Boot Bliss pre-order collection features our Bessie Aviator Boots in beautiful olive green (available in both B and D width). This popular boot was first released in 2021, just in time for the 100th anniversary of their namesake, Bessie Coleman, earning her aviation license. We’ve long been fans of this incredible historical woman, and so when we reproduced a vintage aviator boot, it was only right to name it after Bessie!
Bessie Coleman was the first Black American and first Indigenous American woman to hold a pilot’s license. She was also the first Black person in history to earn an international pilot’s license! Despite facing obstacles like poverty, racism, and gender discrimination, she achieved amazing things. She’s a fascinating person and, though her life was tragically cut short, she’s certainly worth learning about.
Bessie Coleman was born in 1892 in Atlanta, Texas. She was the tenth of thirteen children- when she was young, her father George left the family in hopes of finding better economic opportunities in what is now Oklahoma, so her mother Susan was left to raise Bessie and her siblings solo.
Coleman loved learning from an early age. Her education started in a one-room, segregated school, and she was a bright and interested student. When she was eighteen, Coleman used her savings to start college, but wasn’t able to complete her first year due to financial constraints. In 1915, when Coleman was 23, she was working in Chicago alongside some of her brothers, whom she lived with. Through her work as a manicurist and at a restaurant, Coleman began to hear lots of stories from returning World War 1 pilots, which is where her fascination with flying began. Soon, Coleman was determined to become a pilot herself.
At the time, American flight schools discriminated both against Black people and women, meaning Coleman would be barred from attending. That didn’t stop her, though. Coleman learned French- as one does!- and then enrolled in Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. A talented aviatrix, Coleman made history by earning her international pilot’s license from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale on June 15, 1921.
Later that year, Coleman returned to the U.S .to a storm of media attention. She wanted to make a career out of flying, and with commercial flight still a ways off in the future, one of the primary ways to make a living as a civilian pilot was through stunt flying. In 1922, Coleman went back to Europe to hone her stunt flying skills. Upon her second return to the U.S., she began her famed career as a stunt pilot.
Coleman’s first stunt flight performance took place in September of 1922, at an event honoring veterans of the 369th Infantry Regiment from World War 1- an all-Black regiment. For the next five years, Coleman’s stunt flying was a highly popular attraction, and folks came from all around the U.S. to see her fly. She performed aerial tricks at airshows across the country, dazzling crowds with her loops, barrel rolls, and figure-eights. “Queen Bess”, as she was known, flew biplanes like the Nieuport 564 and Curtiss JN-4 Jenny- mostly aircraft left over from the war. Equality and justice were important to Coleman- she refused to perform at events that discriminated against Black people, and she dreamed of one day opening a flight school for Black aviators. She also engaged in public speaking events, where she promoted furthering opportunities for Black people in aviation. She got a lot done!
Sadly, Coleman’s life was cut short when she passed away at age 34 in a flying accident. Flying in the 1920s was a daring and dangerous venture, especially for stunt pilots. On April 30, 1926, Coleman was a passenger on a test flight in Jacksonville, Florida, when a mechanical failure caused the plane to crash. Her sudden passing was a shock, and she was mourned across the country. Her funeral in Chicago was attended by over 10,000 people, and was led by fellow activist Ida B. Wells.
While Coleman didn’t live long enough to achieve her dream of opening a flight school, she paved the way for others to achieve this dream and more in her honor. Three years after her death, in 1929, the Bessie Coleman Aero Club was founded in Los Angeles by a group of Black aviators, including William J. Powell. Established to promote aviation awareness and training within the Black community, the Bessie Coleman Aero Club accepted both men and women.
Later, in 1977, Coleman was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame for her historic contributions to both aviation and civil rights. Across America, numerous schools and aviation programs are named for her. In 2006, she was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Her legacy endures through her status as a cultural icon. Coleman remains an inspirational figure for multiple flight organizations, including Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars and Sisters of the Skies– two non-profits who we fundraised for back when we initially launched the Bessie Aviator Boots in 2021! There is even a Bessie Coleman Barbie doll, from their Inspiring Women series.
Bessie Coleman is a historical figure who will always be close to our hearts. She was truly amazing!
For those who want to embody Bessie Coleman’s iconic aviator look, check out our new Bessie Vintage Aviator Boots in olive green. They’re 15% off each pair through June 15 as part of our Boot Bliss pre-order!
Pre-Order is Open
June 6-15
15% Discount Per Pair
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