Sen. Nice invites Oklahomans to celebrate Bessie Coleman Centennial Week

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nikki Nice, D-Oklahoma City, wants more Oklahomans to know about the life and legacy of Bessie Coleman, the first African American and Native American woman to earn a pilot license. Nice, the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics, and Langston University have announced the celebration of Bessie Coleman Week, with special events scheduled for January 27-30.

“When you look at Bessie Coleman’s life, and how many doors were closed to her at that time, it just shows her conviction, courage and tenacity,” Nice said. “Like me, she attended Langston University but had to leave because she just didn’t have the money to continue. She moved to Chicago and after hearing about the women pilots in France during World War I, she decided she wanted to become a pilot. No aviation schools in the U.S. would accept a woman of color – but instead of giving up, she applied for grants, learned to speak French, then moved to France, becoming the first American woman to obtain an international pilot license.”

In the 1920s Coleman became a “barnstorming” pilot, performing aerobatics and was billed as “the world’s greatest woman flier.” Tragically, she died at the age of 34 in 1926 while rehearsing for an air show, but Nice said Coleman’s life and accomplishments continued to inspire future generations.

“When Dr. Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space in 1992, she carried Bessie Coleman’s picture with her on the space shuttle,” Nice said. “I want more Oklahoma children in my community and throughout the state to learn about Bessie, and realize they, too, can have careers in aviation. We are working to do that through the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars, which promotes her legacy through STEM-based programs, educating students in the fundamentals of aeronautics while introducing students to the various careers in aviation.”  

Paula Kedy is the Statewide Aerospace STEM Education Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics.

“Aerospace is one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing industries, making it crucial to provide educational opportunities for students to explore diverse career paths in aviation and space technologies. Early exposure to aeronautics increases the likelihood of students engaging in STEM courses and acquiring essential skills for success in this industry,” Kedy said.

Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson, president of Langston University, said a century after Coleman’s last flight, her story continues to inspire young people to pursue their education, particularly in the STEM fields.

“As Oklahoma’s HBCU and a proud land-grant institution, we remain committed to expanding educational access and strengthening STEM pathways for the communities we serve,” Jackson said. “It is a privilege to honor Bessie Coleman’s remarkable story and share her enduring impact with the people of Oklahoma and beyond.”

Events during the Bessie Coleman Centennial Week include:

• Tuesday, January 27, Bessie Coleman’s great-niece, Gigi Coleman-Brooms, will make an appearance with aviation high school students participating in the AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) You Can Fly Aero Student Thunder Day with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
• Wednesday, January 28, Coleman-Brooms will host an aviation pep rally with students at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary. She will later tour Langston University, and then at 5:30 p.m. will host a community celebration and aviation conversation with Sen. Nice and Dr. Ruth Ray Jackson at the Metro Tech Auditorium.
• Thursday, January 29, Coleman-Brooms will visit Hodson Elementary School in Owasso.
• Friday, January 30, Coleman-Brooms will greet passengers and the public for a meet and greet at the Tulsa International Airport.

Coleman-Brooms said her aunt would have been proud of the work being done in her honor and legacy.

“Speaking at schools and churches, Bessie Coleman encouraged African Americans’ interest in aviation. She also raised money to found a school to train Black aviators. One hundred years later, we are continuing her mission, and we are excited to call the state of Oklahoma our aeronautical family,” said Coleman-Brooms.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Nikki Nice at 405-521-5531 or Nikki.Nice@oksenate.gov