To honor the legacy of Bessie Coleman, the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license, American Airlines operated a flight earlier this month from DFW International Airport to Phoenix with a crew of all Black women.
Coleman earned her pilot’s license in 1921, traveling to France to do so because of discrimination at U.S. flight schools, according to PBS. She set an example for others to follow in the aviation industry, American noted in a news release.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be a part of the crew where we’re inspiring young girls, young girls of color, to see the various roles that these women play in every aspect to make this flight possible,” said Beth Powell, the flight’s captain, in an American video about the Aug. 8 flight.
