For Black History Month, we will spotlight some of the greatest athletes in Historically Black College and University History. Today we spotlight a woman who became the first Black woman to win a Tennis Grand Slam champion.

Little Known Black History Fact: Althea Gibson

Althea Gibson started her sports career at the age of 12 in 1939 playing Paddle tennis. Gibson quit school at the age of 13 and according to legend used the boxing skills she learned to engaged “street fighting” and girls basketball. Some of Gibson’s neighbors helped raise money to pay for Tennis lessons for her. After dismissing the sport, she eventually gained a love for Tennis and became an elite player and won her first tournament in 1941. After winning more amateur titles, Gibson would land a full scholarship to Florida A&M University.

Because of racial biases including tournaments being held in White’s Only courses, Gibson was unable to compete in some tournaments including the United States National Championships (now the US Open). Eventually, things changed and in 1956 Gibson became the first African-American athlete to win a Grand Slam tournament, the French Championships.

Gibson’s accomplishments include:

Singles

French Open Title: 1956

Wimbledon Title: 1957, 1958

US Open Title: 1957, 1958

Doubles:

French Open Title: 1956

Wimbledon Title: 1956, 1957, 1958

US Open Title: 1957, 1958

Mixed Doubles:

US Open: 1957

International Women’s Tennis Hall of Fame Induction: 1971

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Wilma Rudolph, Tennessee State University

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Andre Dawson, Florida A&M University

For Black History Month, we will spotlight some of the greatest athletes in Historically Black College and University History. Today we spotlight a woman who overcame childhood struggles to become a three-time gold medalist.

Wilma Rudolph overcame a number of struggles as a kid including pneumonia and scarlet fever, and she contracted infantile paralysis at the age of five. Rudolph wore a leg brace but eventually learned how to walk without it. In High School, Rudolph excelled in basketball and track but during her Senior year who gave birth. During a Basketball game in High School, she was spotted by legendary track coach  Ed Temple, of Tennessee State and the rest was history.

Before enrolling in TSU, Rudolph joined the summer track program at the HBCU. At a meet in Philadelphia Rudolph won all nine events she entered. Rudolph raced at amateur athletic events with TSU’s women’s track team, known as the Tigerbelles, for two more years before enrolling at TSU as a student in 1958. As a Junior in High School, attended the 1956 U.S. Olympic track and field team trials in Seattle, Washington, where she qualified for the 200-meters. Rudolph ran the third leg of the 4 × 100 m relay. The American team of Rudolph and three other TSU track members took home the bronze medal.

At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, Rudolph took home the Gold Medal in the 100 meters, 200 meters and the 4×100 meter relay. She was the first woman ever to win 3 Gold Medals at the Olympics.

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Althea Gibson

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Andre Dawson, Florida A&M University

Millennials, the reality is adulting has its challenges! Regardless of our feelings of the ups and downs of adulthood, we still have to make decisions that will affect our future and those behind us. One major key decision that affects our future is voting. Our votes are just as important as our grandparents. With this upcoming election, it’s important that we not only make history at the polls, but we hold each candidate accountable on the laws that will shape the future landscape of America for Millennials and Americans alike.

Below are outlined issues that that should be on your radar in 2020:

 

Criminal Justice Reform (Pay close attention to who’s running for district attorney and sheriff in your local elections.)

For over 40 years the prison population continues to rise high in numbers with many of the incarcerated our black and brown boys. We have over 2,300 local prosecutor offices in this country. These prosecutors try, on average, 2.3 million felony cases a year. Our local DA’s and prosecutors represent 95% of criminal prosecutions in our nation.

Even though each state DA’s policies and practices are different, one common thing they have is it’s an elected position. Each campaign year we get to see how they politicize their conviction and death rates with aims to target safety within our community. With those numbers and a continual politicized justice system, it is important that millennials vote for our DA’s and sheriffs. Pay close attention to candidates who understand the importance of reforming criminal justice within our community, not those who peddle their own personal agenda.

 

Taxes (property, real estate, wages and student loan interest deductions)

How many of us noticed we got more money on our checks and less money on our taxes? If so, that is just one of the many changes the new tax laws have had on our bank accounts. These new laws have also affected our commuters, our avid millennials who relocate for their jobs, and those of us who live in higher-income neighborhoods.

Many of us commute to work and our employer pays for those expenses (train transit, bus transit, and parking). Now, some of us will have to foot the bill because it’s no longer considered a tax deduction within companies. The same applies for many of us who make major moves to cities because of our job. We can no longer count the mileage or unpaid travel for relocation expenses as a deduction. Note, these tax laws vary from state to state, so it is very important to know and understand these laws in your state.

In this upcoming election, we need to continue to make strives on who we vote for in Congress (House Representative and Senate) to ensure these new taxes don’t keep us broke and living at our parents’ house.

 

Student Loan Debt and Education

Each year we get to see every political candidate come up with a grand promise for better, more accessible education in lower income communities. Promises like lower or no student loan debt, and affordable education for first generation college students. These are to try to gain the millennial vote. In this upcoming election makes it no different. On the agenda for student loan debt and education, a few of the democratic nominees have proposed to reduce student debt for 95% of Americans with student loans, wipe out student debt entirely for 75% for current students who already have accumulated student loan debt., and universal free public college education. Follow the issues of student loan debt very closely in 2020, removing debt from our lives is always beneficial to our success.

 

Healthcare and Reproductive rights

As stated earlier, adulting has challenges, especially when you turn 26 and you’re no longer under your parents healthcare insurance. Then, the worst part is if you don’t get insurance during special enrollment period that’s more money taken from your income taxes during income tax season. Healthcare should be a top button issue on the minds of millennials across the country.

Has wages stagnant and healthcare bills rise, young people need to turn to candidates who have a plan for millennials who might be weary of doctors, or a young person who just needs the proper resources on changing their diets. Healthcare will look different in the future and our vote will dictate which direction we head in. There are 32 countries who have some for a universal healthcare. We are saying that is the right direction for America, but we are saying we need someone to lower these “damn bills!”

Reproductive rights seem to be the issue that never goes away. Especially for black women. Black women have a disadvantage for reproduction because of affordable healthcare insurance, illegal abortions, and negligence from their physicians during pre/post-natal care. Many people within our community, such as planned parenthood, female physicians, the film industry and others have been advocating for those rights to change. Find the candidates are true to the issues you believe. Local politicians as well as some of the bigger ones all have strong stances on reproductive rights. Find the person whose views align with yours.

 

Gentrification (Are these developers/investors adding value to our communities? If so, how can we cash out like them?)

Pay close attention to our cities and communities, they are changing. What once was home to our slums and ghettos is now prime space for real estate develops to move out legacies and families and traditions. According to a gentrification report on govenring.com (research based on census data), almost 20% of neighborhoods with lower incomes have experienced gentrification since 2000. Some say it’s helping the community, but others believe is a detriment. Either way, it should be an issue on your radar. What your community looks like in 15 years will be a direct reflection on your voting record the next five.

 

Energy and Climate Control (Global Warming)

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know and understand the dangers of climate change. This is an issue that has many voters frustrated. It seems most voters agree climate change should be taken seriously and our lives need to change in a significant way, but politicians still stand in the way of REAL climate change. Candidates will be making this a hot button issue in 2020, and you should too. Global temperatures are rising, wildfire seasons are lasting longer, and chunks of ice are breaking off of Antarctica. If we don’t vote to save this planet, who will?

 

Words by: Kinyana Mccoy

 

 

 

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Oakwood University

A private HBCU, Oakwood University is located in Huntsville Alabama and owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Founded in 1896, Oakwood University’s purpose was to educate the recently freed African-Americans in the South. Its original name was “Oakwood Industrial School” and based on a 380-acre former slave plantation. Its early days consisted of faith-based industrial training. It wasn’t until 1904 that the school expanded to include a broader curriculum. Oakwood University offers a Christian education that “promotes the harmonious development of mind, body and spirit, and prepares leaders in service for God and humanity.

Mission Statement:

 

Notable Alumni: Florida State Representative Ronald Brise; author and pastor, Dr. Stephen L. Williams; and singer Brian McKnight.

Mascot:

Enrollment: 

 

learn more: www.oakwood.edu

Attending a Historically Black College University can be the best experience that you create it to be. HBCUs are built on a foundation of culture. Listen to the stories of graduates that have amazing reasons why they are proud to be apart of the HBCU Family! It’s important to give back to our HBCUs as we grow, to give support to the students that come after us, so they can receive not only the same benefits as us but better opportunities.

Shayla talks about Howard University gave her energy and vibe like no other.

Notable Howard University Alumni:

Senator Kamala Harris

Thurgood Marshall

Roxie Roker

Laz Alonso

Marjorie Lee Browne

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(edit) Edward Waters College

Edward Waters College (EWC) is Florida’s oldest independent institution of higher learning as well as the state’s first institution established for the education of African Americans. Founded by Reverend Charles H. Pearce, a presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in 1865.  was sent to Florida to start an education ministry, as no provision had yet been made for the public education of Florida’s newly emancipated blacks. From the beginning, EWC was faced with both abject poverty and widespread illiteracy among its constituents resulting from pre-war conditions of servitude and historical, legally enforced non-schooling of African Americans. However, the school met the needs of its community by offering courses at the elementary, high school, college, and seminary levels. In 1892 the school’s name was changed to Edward Waters College in honor of the third Bishop of the AME Church. With a history beginning in the dark yet hopeful days of Reconstruction, today’s Edward Waters College is living, thriving proof of the power of education and the resilience of deeply rooted educational institutions.

Mission Statement:

Edward Waters College is a small, Christian, Historically Black, urban liberal arts college that offers quality baccalaureate programs. The College strives to prepare students holistically to advance in a global society through the provision of intellectually stimulating programs, and an environment that emphasizes high moral and spiritual values in keeping with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Edwards Waters College seeks to develop excellence in scholarship, research and service for the betterment of humanity.

Notable Alumni: 

Mascot: Tiger

Enrollment: 

Notable Alumni: Former NFL player, Jim “Cannonball” Butler

learn more: https://www.ewc.edu/

 

 

For Black History Month, we will spotlight some of the greatest athletes in Historically Black College and University History. Today we spotlight a player who flew under the radar but eventually became “The Hawk.”

Andre Dawson was born in Miami, Florida where he played high school Baseball and Football. A knee injury during his senior year caused scouts to worry. He didn’t receive a scholarship from the University of Miami and Florida State. However, Dawson eventually played for the Rattlers of Florida A&M University and legendary Head Coach Costa “Pop” Kittles. His time at FAMU led to Dawson being drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 11th round (pick #250) of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft.

In his first season, Dawson had a .282 batting average with 19 home runs and 21 stolen bases and won the 1977 Rookie of the Year. Dawson’s blend of speed and power wowed the Canadian crowd but after 10 years, he came back to the states and joined the Chicago Cubs where we would make unique history.

While the Cubs were not the most stellar franchise in 1987, Dawson hit 49 home runs. While the Cubs record was a last-place 76-85, Dawson’s season was good enough to win the National League MVP. Dawson became the first player to win the award for the league’s best player on a last-place team. Dawson played five more seasons with the Cubs and was one of the franchise’s most popular players during that time.

Dawson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010. He is one of only 2 HBCU players in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Dawson’s career achievements including:

8× All-Star (1981–1983, 1987–1991)

NL MVP (1987)

NL Rookie of the Year (1977)

8× Gold Glove Award (1980–1985, 1987, 1988)

4× Silver Slugger Award (1980, 1981, 1983, 1987)

NL home run leader (1987)

NL RBI leader (1987)

Montreal Expos No. 10 retired

Also, a annual collegiate tournament spotlighting HBCU Baseball players was renamed the Andre Dawson Classic, in his honor.

Source | Black College Nines

Attending a Historically Black College University can be the best experience that you create it to be. HBCUs are built on a foundation of culture. Listen to the stories of graduates that have amazing reasons why they are proud to be apart of the HBCU Family! It’s important to give back to our HBCUs as we grow, to give support to the students that come after us, so they can receive not only the same benefits as us but better opportunities.

Victoria attended one of two HBCUs in the state of Missouri. She explains the culture wasn’t really discussed to attend an HBCU after high school graduation. Victoria appreciates everything she was able to experience with her HBCU.

Notable Harris-Stowe State University Alumni:

Bobby Charles Wilks

Julius Hunter

Rockwell Knuckles

Kimberly Gardner

Cori Bush

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For Black History Month, we will spotlight some of the greatest athletes in Historically Black College and University History. Today we spotlight a player who went from a Super Bowl Champion to Good Morning America.

Sports was in Houston, Texas-born Michael Strahan before he was born. His mother, Louise Strahan was a basketball coach. His father, Gene Willie Strahan was a retired Army Major and a boxer. He is also the nephew of retired professional football player Arthur Strahan. He didn’t play organized football until 1985 when his father sent him to Houston with his Uncle Arthur to play high school football. He did well enough to be offered a scholarship by the Tigers of Texas Southern University.

 As a Defensive end at TSU, Strahan faced enough double teams that the coaches would call them the “Strahan Rules.” His senior year, Strahan recorded 68 tackles with a school-record 19 quarterback sacks and 32 tackles totaling 142 yards in losses. He was also selected Division I-AA Defensive Player of the Year by The Poor Man’s Guide and Edd Hayes Black College Sports Report. In 1992, he was named First Team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference and the SWAC’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He was also named Black College Defensive Player of the Year. As a junior in 1991, Strahan led the SWAC with 14.5 quarterback sacks. His 41.5 career sacks is a Texas Southern record.

Strahan was drafted in 1993 by the New York Giants. His breakout season came in 1997, recording 14 sacks. He was voted into his first Pro Bowl and was also named First-Team All-Pro by the Associated Press. In 1998, Strahan continued his success, racking up 15 sacks and being voted into his second Pro-Bowl and All-Pro team. He was named the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Year (in 2001 and 2003).

In 2001, he broke the single-season sack record, recording 22.5.

In his final game, Strahan had 2 tackles and 1 sack the biggest upset in Super Bowl History, XLII against the New England Patriots.

Post career, Strahan co-hosts Fox NFL Sunday, Good Morning America and Strahan, Sara and Keke.

His Football career achievements include:

Super Bowl champion (XLII)

7× Pro Bowl (1997–1999, 2001–2003, 2005)

4× First-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2001, 2003)

2× Second-team All-Pro (2002, 2005)

2× NFL sacks leader (2001, 2003)

NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2001)

NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

New York Giants Ring of Honor

Pro Football Hall of Fame

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Earl “The Pearl” Monroe [Video]

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Steve “Air” McNair [Video]

Clark Atlanta University

Clark Atlanta University was established in 1988 through the consolidation of its two parent institutions, Atlanta University (1865), the nation’s first institution to award graduate degrees to African Americans, and Clark College (1869) the nation’s first four-year liberal arts college to serve a primarily African-American student population. Atlanta University, founded in 1865 by the American Missionary Association, with subsequent assistance from the Freedman’s Bureau, was, before consolidation, the nation’s oldest graduate institution serving a predominantly African-American student body.  By the late 1870s, Atlanta University had begun granting bachelor’s degrees and supplying black teachers and librarians to public schools across the South. In 1929-1930, the institution began offering graduate education exclusively in various liberal arts areas, and in the social and natural sciences. Clark College was founded in 1869 as Clark University by the Freedmen’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which later would become the United Methodist Church. For purposes of economy and efficiency, during the 1930’s, it was decided that Clark would join the Atlanta University Complex. 

Mission Statement:

“Building on its social justice history and heritage, Clark Atlanta University is a culturally diverse, research-intensive, liberal arts institution that prepares and transforms the lives of students. CAU is located in the heart of Atlanta which is the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement and modern center of emerging technologies and innovation. Ignited by its history, CAU is committed to delivering education that is accessible, relevant, and transformative.”

Mascot: Panther

Enrollment: 3,920 students

Notable Alumni: fashion model and actress Eva Marcille, Brian Michael-Cox, Bomani Jones, Emmanuel Lewis, and DJ Drama

 

learn more: http://www.cau.edu/

 

For Black History Month, we will spotlight some of the greatest athletes in Historically Black College and University History. Today we spotlight a player from Mississippi considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time.

Jerry Rice‘s football career started his sophomore year when he was caught ditching class. A school official suggested Rice play sports due to his speed from running away from him. That led to the start of a fantastic High School sports career which included Football, Basketball, and Track. After graduation, Rice was headed to Mississippi Valley State, a small HBCU in Itta Bena, Ms. From there, the legend of “World” was born.

Rice played under legendary head coach Archie Cooley, who’s “Gunslinger” spread offense broke college records. Rice and redshirt freshman quarterback Willie Totten was known as the “The Satellite Express” due to Valley’s record-breaking air attack. Rice had a record-setting year in 1983. The season included NCAA records for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,450), and was named a first-team Division I-AA All-American. He also set a single-game NCAA record by catching 24 passes against Louisiana’s Southern University. As a senior in 1984, he broke his own Division I-AA records for receptions (112) and receiving yards (1,845). His 27 touchdown receptions in that 1984 season set the NCAA record for all divisions

READ: Little Known Black History Fact: Black College Football

He finished his collegiate career with 301 catches for 4,693 yards and 50 touchdowns. His NCAA record for total career touchdown receptions stood until 2006

Rice was highly coveted by The San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh who had already won 2 Super Bowl championships with QB Joe Montana. Knowing that he needed to improve the wide receiver position, Walsh and the 49ers traded its first two picks in the 1985 NFL Draft to position themselves to draft Rice.

Rice went on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year honors by the United Press International, bringing in 49 catches for 927 yards. By 1987, Rice was winning NFL MVP and the 49ers won the Super Bowl in the 1988-89 and 89-90 seasons (In 1988, Rice won Super Bowl MVP, catching 11 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown). Rice would win another Super Bowl in 1995. Rice would continue his career with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks before he retired in 2004.

Rice would retire with the following records:

1,549 career receptions

22,895 career receiving yards

197 career receiving touchdowns

208 total touchdowns[1]

23,546 career all-purpose yards

Rice career achievements include

3× Super Bowl champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)

Super Bowl MVP (XXIII)

13× Pro Bowl (1986–1996, 1998, 2002)

10× First-team All-Pro (1986–1990, 1992–1996)

2× Second-team All-Pro (1991, 2002)

Bert Bell Award (1987)

2× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1987, 1993)

6× NFL receiving yards leader (1986, 1989, 1990, 1993–1995)

2× NFL receptions leader (1990, 1996)

6× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1986, 1987, 1989–1991, 1993)

Sports Illustrated Player of the Year (1986)

NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

First-team NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

First-team NFL 1990s All-Decade Team

San Francisco 49ers No. 80 retired

NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year (1985)

2× First-team I-AA All-American (1983, 1984)

 

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Steve “Air” McNair [Video]

RELATED: Black History Month HBCU Athlete Spotlight: Walter Payton

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Attending a Historically Black College University can be the best experience that you create it to be. HBCUs are built on a foundation of culture. Listen to the stories of graduates that have amazing reasons why they are proud to be apart of the HBCU Family! It’s important to give back to our HBCUs as we grow, to give support to the students that come after us, so they can receive not only the same benefits as us but better opportunities.

Notable North Carolina A & T University Alumni:

Ezell Blair Jr.

Franklin McCain

Janice Bryant Howroyd

Joseph McNeil

Jibreel Khazan

 

 

Attending a Historically Black College University can be the best experience that you create it to be. HBCUs are built on a foundation of culture. Listen to the stories of graduates that have amazing reasons why they are proud to be apart of the HBCU Family! It’s important to give back to our HBCUs as we grow, to give support to the students that come after us, so they can receive not only the same benefits as us but better opportunities.

Lysious expresses he had two options, Morgan State and Howard University. He asked his father and overall the deciding factor was based on family and the value in their opinion.

Notable Howard University Alumni:

Elijah Cummings

Marjorie Lee Browne

Lance Gross

Toni Morrison

Ossie Davis

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