Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman is an unknown figure in American history. At first, “she complied with society’s standard of job opportunities for women at the turn of the century by working as a domestic and later a manicurist” (Creasman 162-3). After feeling unfulfilled, she turned to flying. The search for flying lessons by an African American in the 1920’s alone could have discouraged anyone, but not Bessie. Her dream was to open a flight school …showed first 75 words of 3068 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3068 total…Coleman and Dr. Mae Jemison.” The Journal of Negro History 82.1 (1997): 158-168. Hadley Freydberg, Elizabeth. Bessie Coleman: The Brownskin Lady Bird. New York: Garland Publishing, 1994. Haskins, Jim. Black Eagle: African Americans on Aviation. New York: Scholastic Inc., 1995. Malveaux, Julianne. “Stepping Out Into the Unknown: Bessie Coleman and the Millenium.” 16.26 (2000): 34. McLaurin, Melton A. Celia, A Slave. New York: University of Georgia Press, 1993 Microsoft Encarta Plessy v. Ferguson. Rich, Doris. Queen Bess: Daredevil Aviator. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1993.