Monroeville resident Susan Frazier Delaney is no stranger to dressing like well-known historical figures, particularly strong female pioneers.
For Black History Month and Women’s History Month, the retired teacher has dressed as the Egyptian queen Nefertiti and American author Phillis Wheatley and given presentations at the Monroeville library, elementary schools and for the Black Student Union at Gateway High School.
Delaney, a Gateway school board and Monroeville Rotary member, has represented aviation pioneers Amelia Earhart and Harriet Quimby. And Feb. 21, Delaney donned a vintage pilot helmet, goggles, bomber jacket and boots, embodying Bessie Coleman for first graders at Gateway’s Ramsey Elementary.
Elizabeth Coleman, better known as Bessie, was the first Black woman and first Native American to hold a pilot’s license. She is the earliest known Black individual to obtain an international pilot’s license, which she received June 15, 1921, from the nonprofit, nongovernmental Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
Coleman was born in Waxahachie, Texas, on Jan, 26, 1892 — the 10th of 13 children. As a young girl, she worked in the cotton fields while attending a small, segregated school.
Coleman developed an interest in flying, but there was no training for Blacks, Native Americans or women in the United States at the time.
Coleman’s brother John, who had served in France during World War I, told Bessie that French women were “liberated” and could fly airplanes. In fact, France was well recognized for its aviation trailblazers. In 1910 and 1911, the FAI granted its first 10 pilots’ licenses to women – nine Europeans and one American, Harriet Quimby.
Determined, Coleman took French courses, saved up and obtained sponsorship. After getting her license in France, Coleman returned to the states where she continued training to perfect her skills and acrobatic stunts.
Known as “Queen Bess” and “Brave Bess,” Coleman performed dangerous stunts at air shows such as wing walking, diving and parachuting from a plane. Coleman became quite the media sensation and gained a large following.
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The pilot’s goal of creating a school for Blacks never came to fruition. In 1926, Coleman died during a test flight along with her mechanic William Willis. She was 34 years old.
For her funeral, Coleman was given a military escort from six overseas veterans of the Eighth Illinois, the first regiment in the history of the United States to consist entirely of Black Americans,. Over 5,000 people attended her funeral.
A fearless woman who pursued her dreams and fought for civil rights, Coleman refused to perform in any show that prohibited Black attendees or required audience segregation. Coleman promoted aviation for minorities across the country, saying, “The air is the only place free from prejudice.”
During her presentation, Delaney hoped to stress how “Queen Bess” inspired others. She read “Flying Free” to the students and passed out papers with fun facts about the pilot. Afterward, students had the chance to ask questions about Coleman and aviation.
“We love having Mrs. Delaney here at Ramsey. And the students love how she dresses up,” Principal Katie Friend said. “Any community involvement is always welcomed.”