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Bessie Coleman Barriers

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` Bessie Coleman was the first African American pilot. Also known as “Brave Bessie” or “Queen Bess,” she performed spectacular stunts at air shows, and didn’t allow racism to slow her down. As well as breaking down racial discrimination barriers, she also broke down gender barriers, as she was also the world’s first black, female pilot. Born in Atlanta, Texas on January 26, 1892, she was tenth out of thirteen children to George and Susan Coleman, who were both sharecroppers. Coleman was two years old when her father moved them to Waxahachie, Texas, where her parents had two more daughters. Her father left the family in 1901, so her mother and two older brothers went out to work, leaving Bessie to take care of the rest of her siblings

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