Bessie Coleman's aviation career was shaped by significant historical challenges, including the barriers of racial and gender discrimination in the early 20th century. As an African American woman, she faced limited opportunities and was rejected by U.S. flight schools due to her race. This adversity propelled her to seek training in France, where she became the first woman of African American descent to earn a pilot's license. Coleman's determination to succeed despite societal limitations not only opened doors for herself but also paved the way for other minority aviators, establishing her as a pioneering figure in aviation history.