In honor of the second day of Black History Month, I present to you, Bessie Coleman.

Bessie Coleman was the first black woman to receive her pilot license in 1922. Because flight schools denied her entry during this time period she taught herself french and moved to France. It was there that she earned her license from the Cauldron Brother’s School of Aviation in just a short seven months.

She specialized in stunt performing and parachuting, which earned her a living doing barnstorming and performing aerial tricks. Though tragically, on April 30, 1926, Bessie Coleman was killed in an accident during a rehearsal for an aerial show which sent her plummeting to her death.Coleman remains a pioneer of women in the field of aviation.