JONESBORO, Ga. — Noa Lewis wanted her book report to be special. It’s turned out to be life-changing.
She was so excited to write about Bessie Coleman, the first African American woman pilot. Coleman changed the face of aviation in the early 1900s, becoming the first woman of African American and Native American descent to hold a pilot's license.
But when Noa went to file her report, she found there wasn’t much written for kids on this groundbreaking woman.
“When we reached out and looked for books that were her age, it was hard for her to completely read the book,” Noa’s mother Moniqua Lewis said.
Moniqua helped her daughter write letters to the National Aviation Hall of Fame and the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Their response was overwhelming. The museums sent her copies of Coleman’s personal letters and pictures, so Noa could learn from source material.
Noa's enthusiasm about Bessie - from what she wore to the kind of plane she flew to how she followed her dream - also caught the attention of Jonesboro Councilwoman Pat Sebo-Hand. The councilwoman collects "All God's Children" figurines, adding that the historical ones are her favorite.
Sebo-Hand said when she saw Noa's story on 11Alive, she knew the 8-year-old had to have her Bessie Coleman figurine. They met for the first time Wednesday, where she gave Noa her Bessie figurine and told her she knows she will do big things.
The sky is the limit.
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