Another interesting program from our resident Historian Tink Hill introduced us to a little-known hero, an ordinary woman who accomplished extraordinary things, Bessie Coleman. Bessie was born in January of 1892, one of 13 children born to former slaves, then sharecroppers in east Texas near Waxahachie. Bessie attended a one-room segregated school and at age 12 she was supported to attend the Missionary Baptist School. By 18 she received a scholarship to Oklahoma’s Langston University, but due to financial hardship was able to attend for only one semester. Eventually Bessie moved to Chicago’s South Side and lived with her brothers. She worked as a manicurist in a barber shop and heard returned World War I soldiers (who had served with the French) talk about the freedom they experienced in France, about airplanes, and about women’s accomplishments. She also had seen air shows by stunt pilots and wanted to be a pilot. She applied to several flight schools, but all were segregated, and none would accept her. So…she taught herself French, worked to save money and with the support of her South Chicago community, went to France, entered a flight school, and became a very good pilot. She then received her pilot’s license two years before Amelia Earhart. Returning to the United States, she gave her first show in New York City. With successive barnstorming shows which included all kinds of daring tricks on the wings during flight, she was soon christened “Queen Bess.” These “flying circus” demonstrations offered such amazing stunts and required such remarkable skill that whole towns were shut down when her show came to town. People were stunned and enthralled by her expertise. However, during one show in California her plane crashed, and she broke several bones and required several months recovery. She was then back in the air, flying a borrowed plane, and eventually made enough money to buy a new plane. She went to give a show in her home town of Waxahachie, but would fly for them only if they allowed blacks and whites to enter the stands by the same door. With her new plane and a hired mechanic who was white, she went to Florida for a show. With the mechanic, also a pilot, at the controls, she was going to jump from the plane and parachute to the ground. After unbuckling her seat belt and leaning over to select a spot to land, the plane pitched from a wrench wedged in the controls and Bessie Coleman fell to her death. Her life ended at the age of 34. Over 10,000 people attended her funeral in Chicago, and she received many awards and commendations, including a US Postage stamp featuring her in a flying helmet. Perhaps she should be remembered most for her attitude: “The sky is so beautiful and it belongs to no one” and “The air is the only place free of prejudice."