b'BLACK HISTORY Denvers Best Kept SecretBy Dr. Carolyn Philips tion to youth who would not otherwise have the experience. I fyouarenotfamiliarwiththeLearningaboutQueenBessie nameBessieColeman(picturedinspiredhertoformTheBessie below), spend a few minutes with Ms.ColemanChapterofFlyGirlsand Jacqueline Withers and you will leaveBoys.ShedesiredtoexpandtheUnfortunately, with knowledge and understanding ofmembersexperiencesbynotonly why this woman is a significant heroteachingthefundamentalsofavia- institutional racism ofAfrican-Americanhistory.Youwilltion,butprovidingflightsimulation also have a profound appreciation ofand actual flight experience.Her stu- forced Ms. Coleman Ms.WitherseffortstopreserveMs.dents are trained in military decorum Colemans legacy . Colemanwastheandareoftenaskedtopresenttheto leave the United In1921,Bessiecolors at special events. Fly Girls and first African American woman to earnBoysrecentlytookfirstplaceattheStates and earn her a pilots license.Unfortunately, insti- Commerce City Memorial Day Parade. tutionalracismforcedMs.ColemanDespite her dedication and accom- license in France.toleavetheUnitedStatesandearnplishmentswiththeBessieColeman her license in France.Achieving thischapterofFlyGirlsandBoys,Ms.Achieving this goal goal required learning French, but Ms.Withersstillstruggledwiththelack Coleman was not deterred.American aviation history rarely notes that Ms.Jacqueline Withers of support, both financial and social.required learning Coleman earned her license two yearsThankfully,acontactwithBobbie before Amelia Earhart, the most laud- planningandimplementationoftheHarbart,ExecutiveBoardMemberFrench, but Ms. edU.S.femaleaviator.Uponhertribute, removed the display.ofSister-to-Sister,openedthedoor toindividualsandorganizationsthat return to the U.S., she earned recog- JacquelineWithersisanAmericanhavetakeninterestinFlyGirlsandColeman was not nition as Queen Bessie for her daringtreasure in her own right. She attend- BoysandBessieColeman.Senator stunts as a barnstormer. edtheprestigiousChicagoAmericanJanet Buckner presented a tribute todeterred.Sadly, Ms. Coleman died in a tragicConservatory and began her career asBessieColemanandrecognizedthe planeaccidentatage34.Ifnotfora jazz singer/songwriter.An accom- work of Ms. Withers at the state sen-historianslikeJacquelineWithers,plishedartist,withover50murals,ate.BessieColemanmaybejustafoot- many honoring the Tuskegee Airmen,In addition to her efforts on behalf note in American history. Ms. Withersdisplayedacrossthecountry,Ms.ofQueenBessie,Ms.Withersisstill arranged the first flyover for an African- Withershasbeenfeaturedinseg- devotedtokeepingtheTuskegeesharp,witty98yearold.Heshared AmericanwomaninthehistoryofmentsonChannel9,articlesintheAirmenlegacyalive.OnApril30thmemories of the successes and chal-Denver International Airport. She alsoDenver Post and other media outlets.2022,shesponsoredatributetoLt.lenges of the World War II heroes.He sought and received approval to con- OneofherTuskegeeAirmenmuralsCol. James Harvey III, ina standingalso shared his post war experience of structanimpressivedisplayhonor- was recently chosen for display at theroom only event at the Blair-Caldwellbeing rejected for a pilot position with ingQueenBessieatDIA.ShehopedColorado History Museum. It was herLibrary.Col. Harvey is one of the lasta major U.S. airline.His message to it would be a permanent educationaldevotion to the history of the TuskegeeremainingTuskegeeAirmen.Gueststhe group was clear, Dont let anyone tool to inform travelers of this African- Airmen that led her to found the TakeandFlyGirlsandBoysweretreatedstop you for achieving your goals.It is Americanhero.Unfortunately,anFlight Leadership Aviation program intoamemorablepresentationbythethe same message Jacqueline Withers employee, who was not involved in the2003.Shewantedtointroduceavia- lives and spreadsBessie ColemanBODY OF CHRIST NEWS SEPTEMBER 2022 13'