Letter to the Florida Times Union: Correct the Record on Pioneer Aviatrix Bessie Coleman

Dear Florida Times Union Editor

            This letter is a request that the Florida Times Union newspaper do a correction on an important historical figure. On April 30, 1926, female aviatrix pioneer Bessie Coleman died at the (now defunct) Paxon Airfield here in Jacksonville, Florida. When Bessie Coleman died, your publication refused to mention her by name; simply calling her “that woman.” However, it did mention the name of the man who piloted the plane. Your story also falsely reported that he was teaching Bessie how to fly. The truth is, Mrs. Coleman held an international pilot’s license she earned from the most prestigious flight school in France. The young pilot was Bessie’s junior and had less flying skills.

            Bessie Coleman was immensely popular during the roaring 20s and was admired by the male and female pilots of her day. One of her admirers was Amelia Earhart. Bessie was known for breath-taking air maneuvers and highly entertaining parachute jumps.  Bessie is also the first African American female to fly an airplane. This woman’s story is important to all. The Unite States Postal Service recognized Mrs. Coleman’s achievements with a stamp in her honor.  The Norman Studios (of Laurel and Hardy fame) here in Jacksonville communicated with Bessie concerning an idea about a film based on her flying skills. She would not live to see the company make its most famous film, The Flying Ace. This film was completed and screened at the end of the same year Bessie Coleman died.

            Bessie was invited to Jacksonville by the Negro Welfare League. Thousands of people in Jacksonville were going to enjoy their May 1^st sponsored airshow. However, a day before the event, Bessie was leaning over her airplane checking out the field below while her assistant piloted the plan. The plane jerked downward throwing Bessie from the plane. She fell 2,000 feet to her death. Her body was taken to the Lawton L. Pratt funeral home. There were thousands of mourners at two funerals held for her here in Jacksonville. One service was held for Bessie at the Bethel Baptist Institutional Church of Jacksonville. Minister Reverend Scott Bartley, Reverend T.H.B. Walker and Reverend John E. Ford presided over the massive funeral. A second service was held for her in the city at the St. Philips Episcopal Church on Union Street then lead by Reverend Parchment. Other funerals were held for her in Orlando and in Chicago where over 15,000 mourners filed pass her casket.

            Jacksonville is the only city relevant to this story that has not officially recognized Bessie Coleman with an honor. This town needs to know that Chicago named a major road leading to one of their major airports, Bessie Coleman Boulevard. There are streets and schools named in her honor around this country. Jacksonville has streets named after Amelia Earhart and the Wright brothers. Bessie has a closer tie to Jacksonville than either of those great aviation pioneers but has not been memorialized as they have. Such an important figure is worthy of your attention and most importantly, making the record straight. An ideal piece would be a series about Bessie Coleman explaining her heroics and the time in which she lived. The city will get to know a pioneering woman who belongs to this city because of her death here. This would be an award-winning story for a talented journalist.

                Enclosed with this correspondence is a copy of both a summary (attached) of her life, ebook and a documentary film entitled “Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues.” I did this project several years ago while a graduate student at U.N.F. The film has run on the city’s public access channel. I will also be asking the City Council and Mayor Brown to consider honoring Bessie Coleman in some official way. Thanks again and I can be reached by email at politainment1@gmail.com or by text/call at 904-422-6078.

Sincerely,

Opio Sokoni

Bessie Coleman's Funerals In Jacksonville, Florida

         
           Bessie Coleman was invited to Jacksonville by the Negro Welfare League. Thousands of people in Jacksonville were going to enjoy their May 1^st 1926 sponsored airshow. However, a day before the event, Bessie was leaning over her airplane checking out the field below while her assistant piloted the plan. The plane jerked downward throwing Bessie from the plane. She fell 2,000 feet to her death. Her body was taken to the Lawton L. Pratt funeral home. There were thousands of mourners at two funerals held for her here in Jacksonville. One service was held for Bessie at the Bethel Baptist Institutional Church of Jacksonville. Minister Reverend Scott Bartley, Reverend T.H.B. Walker and Reverend John E. Ford presided over the massive funeral. A second service was held for her in the city at the St. Philips Episcopal Church on Union Street then lead by Reverend Parchment. Other funerals were held for her in Orlando and in Chicago where over 15,000 mourners filed pass her casket.

See Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues www.Poli-Tainment.com

_________________________________________________________________________

Songs Sung at Bessie Coleman's Funerals

Jesus Savior Pilot Me

I've Done My Work(Bessie's Favorite Gospel Song)

Verse 1.

I've done my work, I've sung my song,
I've done some good, I've done some wrong,
And I shall go where I belong;
The Lord has willed it so.
He knows my heart and ev'ry thought,
He knows what pain and joy I've brought;
And by His love I shall be taught
The way to Him I know.

Verse 2.

He knows my soul so weak and blind,
So full of fears of mortal mind,
And He will lead, and I shall find
The way to Him, I know.
He guides my steps, and He knows best,
He will not harm where He is blessed.
And so goodnight, I'll take my rest,
Where sweet wild roses grow.

__________________________________________________________________________

  Bethel Baptist Institutional Church of Jacksonville

--------------------------------------

 St. Philips Episcopal Church 

Fr. Hugh Chapman is the current Rector 

St. Philips Episcopal Church Record of Leadership

St. Philips Episcopal Church

____________________________________________

Rev. John E. Ford was the pastor and presided over Bessie Coleman's Funeral 

__________________________________________________________

             "Bessie Coleman Flying the Blues" takes a look at the times of the roaring twenties in the United States through the life of pioneering aviatrix Bessie Coleman. She was admired by the women and men of her day in aviatrix because of her death defying skills as an airshow barnstormer. She was the first American woman to receive an international pilots license. Because of her race in the Jim Crow era, Bessie had to go to France to receive training. Her influence reached beyond race and gender. She inspired Amelia Earhart who came after Bessie. Coleman died in 1926 in a plane crash one day before an airshow she was to headline in Jacksonville, Florida. Coleman's dream of opening a school inspired her followers to form the schools that trained the Tuskegee Airmen. This book is the most thorough research done into the life and circumstances of this American female pioneer in the field of aeronautics. Bessie Coleman remains a celebrated figure during Black History Month and she is hugely popular among aeronautics enthusiasts. Finally, this ebook captures race and Bessie's connection to the hugely popular Blues and Jazz music genres.

             Bessie Coleman was the first African American to earn a pilot's license. She taught herself French and moved to France in order to earn a license. Her international license came from France's well-known Caudron Brother's School of Aviation in just seven months. She specialized in aerial tricks, stunt flying and parachuting. This is how she made a living as a barnstormer around the United States and France. She remains a pioneer in the field of aviation.

 Aviatrix Pioneer Bessie Coleman 

Capturing the attention of the world with her hair-raising stunt flying, parachuting and barnstorming, Bessie Coleman also bridged a pivotal gap by becoming the first African American woman to earn a recognized pilot’s license. She was also among the first women to become a famous pilot. Amelia Earhart idolized Brave Bessie.

As she proved throughout her sky-high career, Bessie Coleman was unstoppable. When U.S. flying schools refused to allow her entry, she quickly learned French and departed for France, gaining her pilot’s license from the coveted Caudron Brother’s School of Aviation in just seven months.  Bessie’s life and career proves that determination and passion is stronger than any of society’s constraints.

The times were the roaring twenties in the United States. Pioneering aviatrix Bessie Coleman was admired by the women and men of her day in aviatrix because of the excitement she brought to the early airshows. She was the first American woman to receive an international pilot’s license and first African American to receive a pilot’s license. Her influence reached beyond race and gender. Coleman's dream of opening a school inspired her followers to form the schools that lead to the training of the famed World War II black pilots called the Tuskegee Airmen. She also inspired Amelia Earhart who came after Bessie. 

Coleman died in 1926 in a plane crash one day before an airshow she was to headline in Jacksonville, Florida. The United States Postal Service recognized Mrs. Coleman’s pioneering achievements with a stamp. Roads and schools have also been named in her honor. Bessie Coleman’s remarkable story of courage and achievement is still celebrated every February and March during Black History and Women’s History months. She is also hugely popular among aeronautics enthusiasts.

She was one of the first pioneers to break down social barriers and confront an issue that many at the time kept quiet. In addition, she was the first African American to refuse to perform if blacks were not allowed through the same entrance as Whites. Not only was it rare for a woman to become a pilot, but the fact she was an African American woman made her achievements all the more important. 

Brave Bessie Coleman died in a plane accident in Jacksonville, Florida one day before an airshow she was to headline. The city of her childhood (Waxahachie, TX) and the city she migrated to (Chicago) have both named major roads and schools in Bessie’s honor. The city of her death has streets named after Amelia Earhart and the Wright brothers. Bessie, however, who has a closer tie to Jacksonville than either of them has not been honored as such.

  

About the author:

Opio is a political commentator and founder of Poli-Tainment, Inc., a non-profit organization which uses various forms of entertainment to educate the public about important issues. He is also a documentary filmmaker whose subjects are media images, Hip Hop and meth addiction. Mr. Sokoni’s writings include books about the Seminole Wars, the plight of black police officers and a history about black music genres created in the United States. Opio has a BA in political science from Norfolk State University, a masters in criminal justice from the University of North Florida and a law degree from Howard University. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida.  Contact: Opio Sokoni / 904-422-6078 / politainment1@gmail.com.

eBook: Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues

Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues - New eBook Chronicles Life & Career of First Black Woman to Earn Pilot’s License.

Capturing the attention of the world with her hair-raising stunt flying, parachuting and barnstorming, Bessie Coleman also bridged a pivotal civil rights gap by becoming the first African American woman to earn a recognized pilot’s license. Following new and diligent research by Opio Sokoni, Coleman’s life and its impact on aviation is depicted as never seen before.

For Immediate Release

Jacksonville, FL – As she proved throughout her sky-high career, Bessie Coleman was unstoppable. When U.S. flying schools refused to allow her entry, she quickly learned French and departed for France, gaining her pilot’s license from the coveted Caudron Brother’s School of Aviation in just seven months.

In a powerful new book researched and compiled by Opio Sokoni, Bessie’s life and career is brought back into the spotlight for the current generation to enjoy and appreciate.

‘Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues’ proves that determination and passion is stronger than any of society’s constraints.

Synopsis:

Flying the Blues" takes a look at the times of the roaring twenties in the United States through the life of pioneering aviatrix Bessie Coleman. She was admired by the women and men of her day in aviatrix because of her death defying skills as an airshow barnstormer. She was the first American woman to receive an international pilot’s license and first African American to receive a pilots license. Her influence reached beyond race and gender. She inspired Amelia Earhart who came after Bessie.

Coleman died in 1926 in a plane crash one day before an airshow she was to headline in Jacksonville, Florida. Coleman's dream of opening a school inspired her followers to form the schools that lead to the training of the famed World War II black pilots called the Tuskegee Airmen. This book is the most thorough research done into the life and circumstances of this American female pioneer in the field of aeronautics.

Finally, this ebook captures race and Bessie's connection to the hugely popular Blues and Jazz music genres.

As the author explains, Coleman remains a celebrated figure during the annual Black History Month.

“Bessie Coleman’s remarkable story of courage and achievement is still celebrated every February. She is hugely popular among aeronautics enthusiasts and is cherished by those who fought hard during the Women’s and Civil Rights Movements,” says Sokoni.

Continuing, “She was one of the first pioneers to break down social barriers and confront an issue that many at the time kept quiet. Not only was it rare for a woman to become a pilot, but the fact she was an African American woman made her achievements all the more important.”

As a renowned political commentator, Sokoni had good reason to teach the world about Bessie Coleman.

“Bessie died in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida and there has been nothing named in her honor. Amelia Earhart and the Wright brothers have streets in this city named after them, but not Bessie, who has a closer tie to Jacksonville than either of them,” he adds.

The book has also inspired an entertaining and informative documentary surrounding Coleman’s life. Proving popular with internet audiences, the film can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/WX9Kwt

‘Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues’ is available now: www.Poli-Tainment.com and on Amazon.com.

About the author:

Opio is a political commentator and founder of Poli-Tainment, Inc., a non-profit organization which uses various forms of entertainment to educate the public about important issues. He is also a documentary filmmaker whose subjects are media images, Hip Hop and meth addiction. Mr. Sokoni’s writings include books about the Seminole Wars, the plight of black police officers and a history about black music genres created in the United States. Opio has a BA in political science from Norfolk State University, a masters in criminal justice from the University of North Florida and a law degree from Howard University. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida.

Contact: Opio Sokoni / 904-422-6078 / politainment1@gmail.com

Video: Bessie Coleman: Flying the Blues

Part 1

Part 2