Early Childhood and Life Bessie Coleman was born on January 26, 1892, in Atlanta, Texas, to sharecroppers George and Susan Coleman. Her father was of Native American and African American ancestry, while her mother was also of African American ancestry. The couple had another daughter named Lottie who died at the age of four years old. Bessie began learning how to ride a horse at the age of five. Two years later, she made her first public appearance riding alongside her family's troupe of minstrel performers at a county fair. She also started taking dancing lessons at this time from a white woman named Mrs. Rittenhouse. In 1900, the Colemans moved to Houston, Texas, where Bessie became involved in local minstrel shows as a dancer and acrobat. In 1903, Bessie married William "Willie" Coleman, a fellow minstrel performer. The couple had one son together named Will Coleman who died in infancy. After her husband joined a vaudeville company, Bessie followed him to Chicago where they both performed at the Grand Opera House. Here, she met Barney Ellington, who managed the company. He invited Bessie to be his partner in performing feats of balance and gymnastics on horses. This new career change proved to be very successful for her and she became known as the Black Pearl.