Museum builds new display honoring pioneer aviator

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman, born in Atlanta, Texas in 1892, was a the first female African American and Native American pilot in the United States.

Her legacy is now a permanent exhibit at the Texas Air Museum in Slaton, displayed in the World Wars I and II wing.

The exhibit was put out in February, which is Black History month.

That said, Mike Delano, volunteer at the museum, said that is not why she has this new display of her life.

“She was brave, she worked hard, fought against major odds for what she got. Just a very rare person,” he said. “It’s because she was an extremely brave person.”

Chris Whiting finished the thought. “And a true Texan.

Delano said the exhibit was small currently and they are hoping to build the display into a larger exhibit to honor other early African-American aviators. “There’s quite a few of them, and honor them as well in the exhibit, that’s our main goal and purpose.”

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.