Black Women in America – Planes, Rockets, and Motorbikes

Black Women in America – Part 37

 I have written about so many incredible African American women for the last 15 months. In every area of life black women have excelled. Too often they were not given credit for their achievements. It has been one of my goals in writing these stories about incredible black women to demonstrate that they are as capable intellectually, creatively, and competently as any other person, male or female, black or white.

In our previous posting, we saw that black female activists and politicians fought for and obtained more freedoms for African Americans. Last time we demonstrated the remarkable accomplishments, intelligence, multi-talented, and artistic abilities of African American writers who achieved national fame, Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Toni Morrison.

This week we turn to entirely different careers – flying and motorbike riding.

I think you will agree with me that these women had a lot of courage. I have never met any of these great women, so imagine how thrilling it was for me to meet the great niece of one of them – Gigi Coleman. I am including lots of pictures this time!!

Bessie Coleman, First pilot’s license America (1892-1926)
Bonus: Gigi Coleman, Bessie’s Great Niece
Mae Jemison, First astronaut (b. 1956)
Bessie Stringfield – First Solo Motorcycle trip across US (1911-1993)

 

Bessie Coleman – (1892-1926)

Bessie Coleman told the skeptics how she achieved so much – “Refuse to take no for an answer.” Bessie was up against great odds as a Black-Choctaw American woman. In the 1920’s black men and woman were seen as not only incapable of flying; according to the prevalent stereotype of the time they were not supposed to fly. In the United States barriers were thrown up against them. But Bessie did not see this as an obstacle; she saw it as a challenge.

Bessie was born in Atlanta, Texas in 1892. Bessie had to walk miles to school. She proved to be an intelligent student especially in math. Her mother recognized her ability and allowed Bessie to keep the wages she was earning as a laundress to finance her education. Bessie attended the Colored Agricultural and Normal University (now called Langston University). When her funds ran out, she continued to work and save. In 1915 she moved to Chicago to be near her brothers.

We’re not sure when Bessie first decided she wanted to fly. Perhaps it was because her brother who was a WWI veteran told her that women were allowed to fly in France. Bessie had applied to schools in the United States, but they made it plain that they would never take a black woman for a student. Bessie took French lessons and saved up to go to France. In 1921 she earned an international license to fly from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale—two years before Amelia Earhart received her international license.

When Bessie returned to the United States she needed to make a living. The commercial airlines refused her because she was black and a woman. She thought about “barnstorming” but no one would train her to do the stunts. She went back to Europe for advanced training. Then in 1922 she began to earn money doing flying stunts including multiple loops, barrel rolls, spins, and dives across the sky. She flew biplanes called “jenny’s” which had been used in WWI.

Bessie received a lot of criticism from the press but fans loved her. Soon black and white newspapers were promoting her calling her “Queen Bess”. She was happy for the fame, but not just for herself. Bessie wanted to promote flying for black people. In an interview she said, “I made up my mind to try. I tried and I was successful,” she said, adding famously that she “shall never be satisfied until we have men of the Race who can fly. Do you know you have never lived until you have flown?” She then continued “with a charming smile” that after being turned down by the first French school she traveled to, which was afraid to teach women aviation due to past deaths, she ultimately studied flight in the city where “Joan of Arc was held prisoner of the English.”[1]

Bessie loved flying but she also took time to travel across the country speaking to audiences in churches, theatres, and schools about flying. With herself as the example she encouraged black men and women and young people to learn to fly. She showed films and inspired each person in her audience to reach out to accomplish their dreams.

Her tragic death in 1926 left thousands mourning. She had been on a scouting expedition looking for a parachute jump site when her mechanic lost control of the plane. Bessie was unbuckled so she could see the area better, and she was thrown to her death from 3500 feet in the air. Ten thousand people came to her funeral. Black pilots from Chicago flew over the site of her grave every year. The Bessie Coleman Aero Club was formed along with the first all-black air show. A group of black female pilots formed the Bessie Coleman Aviators Club in 1977.

In 1995, Marion Coleman successfully petitioned the U.S. postal service for a stamp commemorating Bessie. Her legacy is also spread today by her great niece, Gigi Coleman.

Gigi Coleman

I had the privilege of meeting Bessie’s great-niece at the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum (McMinnville, Oregon) last year when she came to portray the story of her great aunt. Gigi Coleman told her great aunt’s story in an engaging way with pictures and other items to share with us. I appreciated the way Gigi explained the high Christian standards of her great aunt. For example, Bessie turned down a compromising role in a movie even though it would have contributed to her fame. Bessie wanted to help others and Gigi continues the tradition.

Gigi brought memorabilia to share including stamps, news articles and even a Bessie Coleman Barbie Doll!

Gigi shared with us the opportunities for exposing disadvantaged young people to career opportunities in flying. She founded the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-stars (BCAA). Young people are encouraged to take an interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). BCAA is associated with “After School Matters” at Gwendolyn Brooks High School. Students receive some teaching in aviation history. They also get to operate flight simulators and drones. Some students have obtained certification and even flown planes!

Gigi has spoken in many places, and you can contact her to share about her aunt “Queen Bess” on her website.

See Gigi in action here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T84h98NP3ec
See BCAA featured on ABC Chicago – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpk_7diprrE

You can contact Gigi Coleman at 773-437-7395 or gigi@flatweb.com to book her one woman show or to find out more of BCAA!

Mae C. Jemison (b. October 1956)

Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity.                    Mae Jemison

 

Mae Jemison was always curious about the world around her. She loved to study anything that fascinated her including nature, science, astronomy, languages, African American history, engineering, medicine, technology, dance, and space. She was a good student and entered college when she was only sixteen. She graduated from Stanford University in 1977 with a degree in chemical engineering. While in school Mae suffered racial discrimination. She later served as the president of the Black Student Union. Amazingly talented in so many areas, she also studied dance and African American subjects.

She entered Cornell Medical College where she graduated in 1981. While she was studying there, she traveled to Cuba for the American Medical Student Association. She also worked at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand. From 1983 – 1985 Mae was a Peace Corps medical officer in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Mae was fluent in Russian, Japanese and Swahili.

Mae finally realized her dream of going into space in 1987 when she was accepted as one of 15 people out of over 2000 applicants into NASA’s training program. She worked on projects at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. She worked for five years as a specialist before she was chosen with six astronauts to fly on the space shuttle Endeavor. In 1992, Mae Carol Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space. Her team orbited the earth 126 times in the space shuttle Endeavour. Among other special items, Mae carried with her a picture of Bessie Coleman.

She left NASA in 1993 and moved onto other ventures. She became a much sought after speaker and taught in college. She starred in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She played Lieutenant Palmer in the episode, “Second Chances.” Mae and Nichelle Nichols (from earlier Star Trek shows) became good friends.

Mae authored a number of books including:

Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments From My Life
The 100 Year Starship
Discovering New Planets

Journey Through Our Solar System

Exploring the Sun

Mae has helped to inspire many young people with the international science camps that she founded in 1994. It is for high school students and is called The Earth We Share (TEWS).

Other interesting things about Mae include many innovative programs in the United States and developing countries. She serves on the boards of many companies and has multiple awards and honorary degrees.

Lately Mae has been involved in the 100 Year Starship project. This group’s goal is to travel to another star in the next hundred years. She produced books on the Symposium in 2012-2014.

Bessie Stringfield – (1911-1993)

Thanks to Bessie’s determination and courage, barriers were broken for all African Americans who wanted to pursue motorcycle riding. Bessie did more than just break the stereotypes. She proved with her own dignity and courage that black men and women can pursue their dreams.

Details surrounding Bessie’s birth and parentage are sometimes conflicting. She does seem to have been born in 1911 in Jamaica. When she was a young child her family moved to Boston. She was orphaned around age 5 when her parents died of smallpox. She was then adopted by a wealthy Irish woman. Bessie loved motorcycles from an early age and asked for one from her mother. Her mother was concerned, but Bessie taught herself to ride the neighbor’s bike. Her mother finally gave in, and Bessie got her own bike.

Bessie’s first bike that she took on tours was a 1928 Indian Scout model, but she loved Harleys and eventually owned 27 during her life. In the late 1920’s, Bessie began to ride out of Boston on many trips getting used to riding a bike. Eventually during the 1930’s and 1940’s she rode in all lower 48 states. She also made motorcycle trips in Brazil, Haiti, and parts of Europe.

Bessie made many trips across the United States in the 1940’s. She supported herself by working at fairs and carnivals. She amazed the crowds with her stunts including the Wall of Death. In this stunt the rider races sideways along the walls of a wooden bowl-shaped arena traveling sideways and even upside-down.

Bessie suffered prejudice as a woman. Once she entered an all-male motorcycle race dressed as a man.  When she won the first-place prize, it was not given to her when she removed her helmet revealing that she was a woman. The men did not like being beat by a woman. That did not stop Bessie from enjoying the freedom she had when traveling on her bike.

Bessie also suffered racial prejudice. “Colored” people were not allowed in motels, so Bessie slept outside on the ground at gas stations. Bessie said it didn’t bother her. She relied on her Catholic faith and upbringing to provide her with the attitude she needed to survive even dangerous situations. Once she was knocked down by a truck but attributed it to “ups and downs” that went with motorcycle riding.

Her mother passed away in 1939 and Bessie moved to Miami. She bought a house and became a nurse. During WWII Bessie helped with the war effort by working as a motorcycle dispatcher. Bessie was married six times. She kept the name Stringfield from her third husband. Bessie suffered through the deaths of three children and six divorces, but not before she had taught at least two of her husbands to ride!

In the 1950’s Bessie slowed down but continued to have adventures. She formed the Iron Horse Motorcycle Club (no longer in existence). She faced some discrimination from the Florida police. “Ladies” were not supposed to be riding on bikes, but Bessie would impress the officers with her skills doing figure eights and other tricks. She kept her license! In her 70’s, Bessie still rode around Miami including to church, impressing everyone.

She earned the title “The Motorcycle Queen of Miami”. Bessie passed away at age 82 in 1993. She had suffered heart problems. In 2000, the American Motorcycle Association created the Bessie Stringfield Award. In 2002 she was added to the Motorcycle Hall of Fame. Bessie is also featured at eh Motorcycle Heritage Museum in Pickerington, Ohio.

[1] From: “Meet Bessie Coleman, the First Black Woman to Get a Pilot’s License.” Natalie Zarrelli, Atlas Obscura.  March 1, 2017 https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/bessie-coleman-aviator?utm_source=Atlas+Obscura+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ec509f4032-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2021_06_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f36db9c480-ec509f4032-63544557&mc_cid=ec509f4032&mc_eid=e5cfa16af4