Women’s History Month Spotlight on Bessie Coleman

Rising Beyond Limits: A Tribute to Bessie Coleman and the Power of Flight

“I refused to take no for an answer.” — Bessie Coleman

The sky has always been a symbol of limitless possibility—a place where only the bold dare to soar. For Bessie Coleman, the first Black and Native American woman to hold a pilot’s license, that meant breaking through barriers no one believed could be broken. At a time when women and people of color were expected to stay grounded—both in society and in their dreams—Bessie defied the odds. She traveled to France to earn her wings because no American flight school would teach her. And when she returned, she didn’t just fly—she inspired generations to do the same.

But the call of the sky isn’t just about aviation. It’s about something deeper—it’s about rising above limitations, about refusing to be defined by what others say is possible. And for me, that’s where this story becomes personal.

A Legacy of Flight—And Loss

My connection to flying runs deeper than admiration for pioneers like Bessie Coleman. It’s woven into my story—a thread of both loss and resilience. My father was a pilot, but when I was only 18 months old, his aircraft fell from the sky. I never got the chance to know him, not in the way a daughter longs to know her father. And yet, despite the tragedy, the love for flight remained in my family’s blood.

My oldest brother, who was just four when our father died, grew up with that same pull toward the skies. And without fully understanding why, I did too. Both of us took flying lessons, as if answering an unspoken call, a quiet but undeniable urge to defy gravity and touch the sky for ourselves.

Owning Your Wings

Bessie Coleman’s story isn’t just about aviation. It’s about refusing to let circumstances dictate your potential. She had every reason to accept society’s limitations, but instead, she carved her own path. She made her own runway.

And that’s exactly what I believe we, as women, must do in our own lives. Whether in aviation, business, relationships, or personal growth, we all have wings—we just have to own them.

Perhaps you’ve felt the weight of doubt pressing down, telling you that your dreams are too big, that your past is too painful, that the world isn’t ready for you to take up space. But what if, like Bessie, you refused to take no for an answer? What if you stood at the edge of possibility, despite fear, despite history, and decided to fly anyway?

Your Sky Is Waiting

The truth is, we all have something we’re meant to rise above. We all have a sky waiting for us to claim. What’s yours?

If Bessie Coleman could defy both gravity and history, if I could reclaim my connection to flight despite tragedy, what is stopping you from soaring toward your own bold, beautiful future?

Because the sky? It’s not the limit. It’s just the beginning.

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PS~ See, I wasn’t kidding when I said there is a reason I am spotlighting Bessie Coleman today for powerful women who paved the way for us to follow our dreams. The video shown here is the first video advertisement made for promotion of the Winged-Women™Academy (my other business) so many years ago. It still gives me chills and makes me feel proud when I listen and watch it.

xo, J.