Bessie Coleman is the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license. Of course, her path to that achievement is littered with race and gender boundaries. For instance, flying schools in the US refused to admit her, so she had to move to France to realize her dream.

She taught herself French and earned her license at the Caudron Brothers School of Aviation in 1921. Coleman didn't stop there: She returned to America and began performing in Chicago as a stunt pilot. In 1922, Coleman became the first Black American to operate a plane in the United States.

Ultimately, she planned to open a school for aspiring Black aviators. However, Coleman tragically died in 1926 during a practice flight in Jacksonville, Florida.

She left an indelible mark on aviation that can never be erased.

Learn more about Bessie Coleman by reading "Bessie Coleman: Queen of the Skies."