Bessie Coleman (1892 – 1926) earned her pilot’s license in 1921 in France, two years before her more famous contemporary, Amelia Earhart.
Coleman was denied enrollment in American aviation schools because of her race and gender, so she learned French and went to France to earn her pilot’s license from the highly respected Federation Aeronautique International. She was the first American to earn this international pilot’s license in France. (Summarized from www.bessiecoleman.org)
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