Bessie Coleman’s 100th Anniversary

How American Airlines paid tribute to a legacy unknown to many history books.

All-black female crew

Apicture is worth a thousand words and a video is as close to real life that one can get. Hearing on the news that American Airlines was honoring the 100th Anniversary of Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to get a pilot’s license was super special. Also, on a side note, Coleman got her pilot license two years before Amelia Earhart.

On a sadder reality note, the history books, magazines, and articles have been splattered with articles about the legacy of Amelia Earhart. There have been movies made in Earhart’s honor that sought to understand her last days as she was never found while crossing the Atlantic. Unlike Earhart, Bessie Coleman’s legacy was lost in the shadows in comparison, partly due to the color of her skin.

100 years later, Ameican Airlines does the right thing in honoring Coleman’s legacy with an all-Black female crew flying from Texas. The entire crew from the custodian to the pilots was black. The photo above conveys the monumental step American Airlines was a part of in honoring Coleman’s legacy. What a powerful statement and kudos to American Airline for doing the right thing as Black history is American history and needs to be shared with all, everywhere, and anyhow.

Horah, this was the first time to my knowledge that any airline had taken such a step. In American Airlines’ history, this was the first for one of their flight to be operated by an all-Black female crew. This is huge and sends a message to young black boys and girls that American Airlines cares about Black history and particularly to Bessie Coleman being a trailblazer in aviation.

Becoming a pilot in the 1920s was not an easy task for a woman let alone a Black woman. Bessie Coleman was driven by her passion for flying as she was denied access to flight schools in the United States. She was not deterred and moved to Paris, France to attend a flight school. She received financial backing from many influentials in the Chicago area. She was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. After years of study, she obtained her pilot’s license in 1921 over a hundred years ago.

August 8 on a Boeing 737 aircraft, the American Airlines flight hosted the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars two-hour tour as her great-niece was a part of and voiced her gratitude on the behalf of her great-aunt. American Airlines flight AA372, Bessie Coleman’s historical flight, was operated from DFW (Dallas, Texas) to PHW (Phoenix, Arizona).

Honoring the legacy of Bessie Coleman has now created a new chapter in her legacy with American Airlines aviation all-black staff operating a one-day flight in her honor. Below is the name of all the participants who were a part of the new chapter in Bessie Coleman’s legacy.

The crew on this special flight comprised: Beth Powell — Pilot, Boeing 737 Captain, Charlene Shortte — Pilot, Boeing 737 First Officer, Cheryl Gaymon — Flight Attendant, Mary Roberson — Flight Attendant, Vanessa Bennett — Flight Attendant, Breana James — Flight Attendant, Sharron Brooks — Ramp Crew Chief, Nicole White — Ramp Crew Chief, Maya Matthews — Fleet Service Agent, Natasha Williams — Fleet Service Agent, Alisha Bates — Fleet Service Agent, Patricia Milfort — Manager on Duty, Customer Operations, Tracy Brown — Customer Service Agent, Arlene Law — Customer Service Coordinator, Lynette Daniels Moody — Customer Service Coordinator, Lillie Hayes — Customer Service Coordinator, Kacy Stevenson — Customer Service Coordinator, and Muje Abdul-Qadir — Control Center Coordinator.

The flight was hosted by the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars tour and was operated by an entirely female black crew. Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying, Pamela Calton — Aviation Maintenance Technician, Crystal Tochi McDaniel — Duty Manager, Cargo Services, Audrey Van Hook — Cargo Crew Chief, Sandra Butler — Cargo Crew Chief, Jessika Mejia — Premium Guest Services Representative, Veronda Butler — Senior Manager, Premium Guest Services.

While Black representation in aviation has a long way to go, the monumental task of operating an all-Black crew for Bessie Coleman’s contribution to aviation will open the doors for many Black boys and girls to follow.

Black representation in aviation in the United States is extremely low as I have only seen a few in my lifetime. According to American Airlines, Black women pilots currently account for less than 1% of all pilots in the United States commercial airline industry.

Again America Airlines makes more history by spearheading its Cadet Academy to recruit people of color and also Gigi Coleman’s organization, the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars is promoting aeronautical studies among young kids.

In conclusion, may the legacy of Bessie Coleman live on and soar to the heavens so that all children will learn about her contribution to aviation and being a trailblazer. One can make a difference and Bessie Coleman was that one. Long live Bessie Coleman.

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