Black History Month
Black History Month - Celebrating Trailblazers in Aviation
Bessie Coleman
Bessie Coleman soared across the skies as the first woman aviator of African American and Native American descent to earn a pilot's license. She was born in 1892 to a family of sharecroppers. Her mother was African American mother and her father was part African American and part Native American, of the Cherokee Nation. She was one of 13 children and her parents grew up in poverty. Despite this, she was determined to fulfill her mother’s hope for her children “to amount to something.”
At 27 years old, she was at a crossroads in her life and looking for alternatives outside of her existing position as a manicurist in beauty salons in Chicago's segregated 1920s. She viewed it as a challenge when her brother, a World War I veteran, taunted her about her future by telling tales of French women flyers: "That's it... You just made the call for me!" She, like many others, had read about World War I aviation heroes in the press, but learning about these French women pilots sparked her interest.
However, due to her race and gender, she was unable to receive flight training in the United States. Determined to achieve her goal, she moved to France and learned to fly in the French military. After obtaining her pilot's license at the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the aviation licensing body of Europe, she returned to the United States and began performing aerial stunts and giving demonstrations to crowds.
Bessie became known for her incredible flying abilities and was soon in high demand for airshows and exhibitions. She was a trailblazer in the field of aviation and paved the way for future generations of women and African Americans to pursue careers in flying.
Unfortunately, Bessie's life was cut short when she died in a plane crash at the age of 34. Despite this, she remains an important figure in the history of aviation and is remembered for her courage, determination, and passion for flying. Coleman's nicknames were Brave Bessie, Queen Bess and The Only Race Aviatrix in the World.
Azellia White
Azellia White, a trailblazer in the aviation field, was the first African American woman to earn her pilot’s license in Texas. Born in Gonzalez, Texas in 1913, she was inspired to learn to fly after witnessing former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama, where her husband worked as a mechanic. In 1946, White opened the Sky Ranch Flying Service, an aviation school for African Americans, along with two other Tuskegee Airmen. The school provided chartered flights, delivery services, and flying instructions to the segregated Houston community. White officially received her pilot's license in 1946 at the age of 32 and was known for performing midair stunts.
After the school closed in 1948 due to financial restrictions, White worked as a licensed beautician and later in a department store. She was honored by the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame, the Houston Area Urban Guild, and the Black Pilots of America for her trailblazing efforts in the aviation field. Azellia White died of natural causes in 2019 at the age of 106. The Science Lab at Sterling Aviation High School in Houston is named in her honor.
Captain Barrington Irving
Captain Barrington Irving, a pilot who defied the odds and achieved greatness in the aviation industry. Born in Jamaica and raised in inner-city Miami, Captain Irving never thought flying was possible until he met a pilot at the age of 15. That encounter sparked a passion in him and in 2007, at just 23 years old, he made history by becoming the youngest person and first black man to fly solo around the world!
Captain Irving is on a mission to inspire the next generation of STEM students. He created "The Flying Classroom," a program that takes students on virtual global expeditions through aviation and STEM projects. His journey around the world proves that anything is possible with determination and belief in oneself. Let's celebrate Captain Irving and all the amazing individuals who are empowering our youth to chase their dreams!
In 2007, the 1940 Air Terminal Museum welcomed Captain Barrington Irving to Houston. After flying solo around the world, Captain Irving arrived in Houston from Denver. The public welcomed the world-renowned pilot and celebrated in his achievements.