Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues

The Bessie Coleman Flying the Blues Blog takes a look at the life of pioneering aviatrix Bessie Coleman. She was admired for her death defying skills as an airshow barnstormer. Because of her race, Bessie had to go to France to receive flight training where she earn an international pilots license. Coleman died in 1926 in a plane crash in Jacksonville, FL on April 30th. Coleman's dream of opening a school inspired her followers to form the schools that trained the Tuskegee Airmen.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Bessie Coleman Street in South Africa

Did you know that there is also a Bessie Coleman Street in the Tigane province of South Africa. Bessie Coleman street runs into Thabo Mbeki and Walter Sisulu streets. Mbeki is a ANC member and former president of South Africa. Sisulu was jailed 25 years with Mandela. It is also one street over from Malcolm X and Winnie Mandela streets. Wow, she is in good company. Tigane is situated in Klerksdorp, North West, South Africa. It is west of Johannesburg and Soweto.