Year Published: 2002
Written by: Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by: E.B. Lewis
Description
Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman was always being told what she could and couldn’t do. Growing up in a time when segregation was a way of life, it was not easy to survive. Bessie didn’t let that stop her. Although she was only eleven when the Wright brothers took their historic flight, she vowed to become the first African-American female pilot. Her sturdy faith and determination helped her overcome obstacles of poverty, racism, and gender discrimination.
Told as a series of richly imagined monologues crafted by acclaimed author Nikki Grimes, with superb illustrations by E. B. Lewis, Bessie’ s story challenges each of us to push beyond our limitations to pursue our own dreams.
