Sojourner's Place is proud to present this series entitled: Ain't I a Woman? A Sojourner's Salute. Each post will present an African-American woman whose greatness and impact was or is largely overlooked by the history books or media. I hope you will find this series to be enlightening, educational, and inspirational in celebration of the lives of African-American women who made and are making a difference.

Janet Harmon Bragg 1907 -1993

We know about Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman the first African American to become an airplane pilot, and the first American aviator of any race or gender to hold an international pilot. But, little is known about Janet Harmon Bragg who was the first African American woman to not only purchase an airplane but she along with Bessie Coleman and others became the first African Americans to actually purchase an airport. The airport, located in Robbins, Illinois - a small predominantly Black suburb south of Chicago, was a training site for Tuskegee airmen in the early 30s.

The granddaughter of a freed slave, Janet Harmon Bragg used her education and business savvy to leave the pile higher for all who followed. Born in Georgia and trained as a nurse at Spelman College, she to Chicago and worked as a nurse until enrolling at Chicago’s Curtiss Aeronautical University ground school in 1933. Although she studied she lacked the primary tool necessary for aeronautical training - an airplane. So what did she do? She bought one!

After the purchase, however, she soon came to realize that there were no airports which allowed Black pilots to fly. So, what did she do? She along with Bessie Coleman and other in her class purchased land and built and airfield in the all-black town of Robbins, Illinois.

Earning her private pilot's license, Janet wrote a weekly column called “Negro Aviation” for the Chicago Defender newspaper. Denied entry into the Women’s Auxiliary Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II, Janet eventually earned her commercial pilot's license, launched a successful nursing-home business, and became a successful entreprenur. In addition to being a speaker at aviation events across the country, she was also a world traveller. Overlooked in American history books, she was welcomed and honored by royalty in Africa.

To learn more about Janet Harmon Bragg, I encourage sojourners to read a summary of a 1989 interview with Janet conducted by Joan Rogers.

In Janet's own words:

I hope that my experiences and the experiences of others will serve a two fold purpose: 1) to convey the price that had to be paid to lay the foundation for today; but more importantly: 2) (I hope Black youth will realize) the kind of strength of character, the kind of determination and the importance of setting a goal, and [not] allowing anything to deter one from achieving that goal.

Sources: Geerkellas and In the Steps of Esteban

Obliged to you for hearing me,
and now old SjP ain't got nothin' more to say...
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