"The air is the only place free of prejudices," said Bessie Coleman, also known as Queen Bess.
She was a barnstormer, aviatrix and the first female African-American pilot. In the 1920s, in order to learn how to fly she had to go where all greatness seemed to go at the time--France. Bessie graduated within a mere two years and was the only woman in her class. This pioneer was one of the many Black aviation heroes on display at the Smithsonian's Black Wings Exhibit, hosted by the Tacoma History Museum.
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