The Stories of Heroes
Do you have a hero? Is there someone who has acted on her or his talents or dreams in a way that inspires you?
This short video from the Smithsonian is about Bessie Coleman, the first Black American woman to earn a pilot’s license. She’s a daredevil whose story highlights the drive to accomplish something difficult.
After watching the video, you might also take a look at two summary descriptions of her life, both from Biography.com (general biography, details of her death).
The complexity of telling the stories of heroes is a recurring theme as we learn about history. When you think of those you find inspiring, what do you focus on, and why?
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The First Female African American Pilot by Smithsonian Channel on YouTube (3:06)
The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Videos) series of posts is written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts. For more information about how to use the variety of materials on our free site, feel free to contact us.