Here is the brief but intense life of Bessie Coleman, America's first African American woman aviator. Born in 1892 in Atlanta, Texas, she became known as Queen Bess, a barnstormer and flying-circus performer who defied the strictures of race, sex, and society in pursuit of a dream. 30 duotone photographs. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.