Nine-year-old Alexandra Williams chose Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman to earn a pilot’s license in the U.S., for a school assignment on heroes, but her teacher wasn’t supportive of the choice. Alexandra’s mother, who works at the FAA, pushed back and gave her a special experience at the agency’s headquarters. NBC News’ Yamiche Alcindor shares more.
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#BessieColeman #FAA #Pilot
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Bessie Colman WAS a hero. A person's HERO is in the eyes of the beholder: it is a matter of personal opinion. Not up for debate or judgment by others. This is why they have a Main Drive in Chicago named after her.
OK, I am own tears, of anguish shocked & horrified that this treatment my daughter received 32 YEARS AGO is STILL going on! How DARE this so-called teacher try to undermine this child's ego & sense of self-worth! My daughter was denied in this way & MUCH worse. I had to get a separate Psychiatrist evaluation AND a lawyer to negate the IEP at my daughter's grade school. I registered for school all the way through to college under the 504 Act; ADA. Straight up racism & jealously- one teacher later on actually admitted this to my daughter & apologized. My daughter was told she would not achieve anything given her being on the spectrum with a HIGH IQ – "too smart for her own britches" I transferred her out of that school after a legal meeting with the District. Well, she not only did she recover from being blind & couldn't walk TWICE but was awarded a MENSA entrance for 7th grade, won the Gold metal downstate HS track & field, won the all H.S. Frank Lloyd Wright Architecture Bronze then Silver Metal award in H.S., awarded entrance through academic scholarship to ALL SIX of the colleges she applied to including USC AND she made an Olympic team while on chemotherapy! MOST IMPORTANTLY she is a faithful child of God & does amazing charity work. All glory & honor to God! The lesson here is CLEAR! Don't take NO for answer, yes. But parents must watch over their children in schools, can't let toxic teachers or ANYONE take away your child's joy & spirit. NEVER assume a child is "dumb" because they are on the Spectrum. Pray about what to do and DO THAT which is BEST for YOUR child. I'm sorry but I would FIRE that "teacher" yesterday. God forgive my lack of grace here. I guess that teacher deserves to learn something from all of this and I pray she does in fact understand her big “do better” for the next class she may have.
Shame on that teacher!! 😡 And what an amazing Mama bear! 🥳🙌 Don’t you forget little one that there can always be a yes! Even if there are 100 No’s get out there and find your Yes! It looks like she did a beautiful job on her report, and thank goodness for the adults who gave her the attention and recognition she deserved! You can’t tell someone who their hero is!
WOW! As much as we have an awesome teachers around the world, sometimes we have this unkind teachers to unfortunately.
I am proud of the this kid and her Mum.
I can't help but wonder if that teacher's from Florida
I tefuse to fly unless laquisha is the pilot.
I have tears in my eyes im so proud of you guys! I love learning about black history! She deserved recognition im so happy she’s and her family are getting that
She favors Bessie too! Congratulations Alexandra!
Maybe someone should teach the teacher because she is obviously clueless about heros. We have millions of them and to focus on the "well-known" ones is ridiculous thinking. Good job little lady. Bessie would be proud ❤❤❤❤❤
Lame…
Nice to see the “Mother” is raising another radical… where is this little girls father? He needs to control this woman.
MADE NATIONAL NEWS!!!! How cool is that!! 🥰
Yep. "Not to take no for an answer."
From your teacher.
homeschool
The teacher should be fired and shamed publicly
White supremacy is always working 7 days a week. Obviously, she was a hero and deserves to be honored.
They really want to control our narrative so proud if that little girl shame on that teacher
I'm betting the teacher had never heard of Coleman.
and like THAT Bessie Coleman become a Hero, thank to THIS ignorant person the World just get little better!
Thank you so much ignorant person teacher!
Bessie Coleman also has a US stamp!
From the mouths of babes … Racism is pathetic and exhausting … Even a third grader is not spared
What kind of person who is entrusted with educating young people would shoot down the enthusiasm of a nine year old child for a history project subject? Look into that more because something is not right there. That kind of attitude in a teacher is a bad sign for the kids under their care and guidance.
I hope that teacher gets some flack for her stupid decision. Teachers you are supposed to give hope and optimism to our rising school children. Not deny them. Everyone to anyone is a hero. Good job on this little lady for not taking no and awesome job on her mom for giving her presentation meaning and spirit.
This is like praising the first person to ride the teacups at Disneyland it's insignificant, her brothers were actual real life heroes and actual real life pilots but as for Miss Bess not so much. That kid would've been better off doing a presentation on the lady who played the Mom on good times, Florida Evans.
I love this story! Awesome young lady, awesome mom, awesome audience and awesome subject! 👍🏻😀✈👩🏾✈️
Wow!
I am an elementary teacher, and could not even imagine telling a student not to research their hero due to teacher preference.
Well maybe if Bessie Coleman was a drag queen the student would have been okayed to read her story…
❤❤❤
The teacher needs to look up the definition of "hero". Additionally, she needs to reevaluate her choice of profession. I don't think that education is the best match for her. This child did the assignment correctly, and showed great enthusiasm in completing it. To shut her down in that manner was both unnecessary and unprofessional.
She is a VERY smart little girl
I think that teacher is the definition of NOT a hero.
Wow amazing support from mom, great job and great advocate and yes, don’t take NO for an answer you are totally correct little one I’m so proud of you both😊
That stupid "teacher" should be fired and lose her license. Her behavior is completely UNACCEPTABLE!
How is Bessie Coleman not a hero? She sounds like she was badass to me.
I believe we all did this as a kid growing up as a kid she really looked up to this woman and she wanted to specifically Express the fact that she was a first black woman to do and at the time being a woman and doing something like that is considered to be a big milestone in history and four women a hero figure surprisingly she said that was not one it shows how teachers could be so irate and want to stand true on what they're teaching and going against truth and standing by the book that teacher was not very open-minded and who knows maybe she has some type of hatred against certain type of people that speak up for themselves
🙏🏽
👍
What a sweet, smart girl. Xoxo!