People, Locations, Episodes

The First Black Quarterback Earns Most Valuable Player Award In The Super Bowl

*On this date in 1988, the first Black Super Bowl MVP was named.

Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, the first African American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl game, was the MVP in Super Bowl XXII.

The final score from Jack Murphy stadium in San Diego, CA was Washington 42, Denver 10.

The First Black Wins a Winter Olympic Medal

*On this date in 1988, world-class figure skater Debi Thomas made an Olympic first. She won a bronze medal in the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary Alberta, Canada.

She became the first African American, in fact the first person of African ancestry to win any medal in the Winter Games.

P.K. Subban, Hockey Player born.

*P.K. Subban was born on this date in 1989. He is a Black Canadian former professional ice hockey defenseman. Pernell-Karl Sylvester Subban was born in Toronto, Canada. In the 1970’s, his father immigrated to Ontario from Jamaica to Sudbury, and his mother, Maria, came from Montserrat to Hamilton. His father (Karl) is a retired school […]

The First Black Woman Executive in Major League Baseball is Hired

*On this date in 1990, the first Black Woman executive in major league baseball MLB was named.

Elaine Weddington Steward was named assistant general manager of the Boston Red Sox of the American League.

Angel Goodrich, Basketball Player, and Firefighter born

*Angel Goodrich was born on this date in 1990. She is a Black, Native American former professional basketball player and firefighter.   Angel Goodrich was born to Jonathan and Fayth (Goodrich) Lewis in Glendale, Arizona. Jonathan is Black, and Fayth is Native American (Cherokee). Goodrich herself is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. Goodrich has two siblings, […]

The First Black Woman Coaches a Division 1 Men’s Basketball Team

On this date in 1990, the first African American woman was named assistant coach in Division I NCAA basketball. Bernadette Locke was hired at the University of Kentucky.

Locke was born in Lockwood, TN. She was a former All-American at the University of Georgia. She holds a BA in Education and remained there as an assistant coach for four years.

Locke then moved to the head coaching position of University of Kentucky’s women’s basketball program from 1995 to 2003.

Ken Griffey Sr., and Jr. hit Home Runs for the Seattle Mariners in the Same Inning

*On this date in 1990, Ken Griffey Sr. and his son Ken Griffey Jr. both on the Seattle Mariners homered in consecutive at-bats against the Anaheim Angels.

In the first inning, Senior hit a two-run homer and Junior a solo shot. Both father and son playing together was a first for major league baseball.

The Negro League Baseball Museum Opens

*The opening of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) occurred on this date in 1990.  NLBM is a privately funded museum dedicated to preserving the history of Negro League Baseball in America. It was founded in Kansas City, Missouri, in the historic 18th & Vine District, the hub of the Black cultural activity in Kansas […]

Blake Bolden, Hockey Player born

 *Blake Bolden was born on this date in 1991. She is a (retired) Black women’s professional ice hockey player and current National Hockey League scout. Blake Alexis Bolden began following the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League (IHL) in Stow, Ohio. Her father worked for the team and helped her meet many players. She […]

Bubba Wallace Jr., NASCAR Driver born

*”Bubba” Wallace was born on this date in 1993.  He is a Black professional stock car racing driver.   The son of Darrell Wallace Sr. and Desiree Wallace, he was born in Mobile, Alabama, and grew up in Concord, North Carolina. His father owns an industrial cleaning company, and his mother is a social worker […]

The First Black Man Wins The Masters Golf Tournament

On this date in 1997 the first African American professional golfer won the Master Golf Tournament.

21-year-old Eldrick “Tiger” Woods also became the youngest player to ever win the Masters. He shot an 18 under par 270 to receive the traditional Green Jacket and the $486,000 first-place prize.

Naomi Osaka, Tennis Player born

*Naomi Osaka was born on this date in 1997.  She is a Black Japanese professional tennis player.  She was born in Chūō-Ku, Osaka, in Japan, to Tamaki Osaka and Leonard François. Her mother is from Hokkaido, Japan, and her father is from Jacmel, Haiti. She has an older sister named Mari, a professional tennis player. The […]

A Second Black Woman Wins the US Open Tennis Title

On this date in 1999, Serena Williams became the first African American woman to win the USA Open since Althea Gibson won it in 1958.

In 2013, she won her fifth USA Open title!

Black Horse Jockey Rides In The Kentucky Derby After 79 Years

On this date in 2000, the first Black jockey in 79 years rode in the Kentucky Derby.

Marlon St. Julien was the first Black jockey since 1921 to ride in the world’s most famous horse race. St. Julien rode Curule, a 50-to-1 long shot who earned a spot in the 19-horse field when another horse, Harlan Traveler, pulled out.

Curule is owned by Godolphin Racing, which represents two sheiks who are members of Dubai’s ruling family. St. Julien finished 7th in the 2000 Kentucky Derby.

The First Black Male Swimmer Qualifies for the Olympics

*On this date in 2000, the first African American man made the U.S. Olympic Swimming team.

Anthony Ervin of Valencia, Calif., qualified in the men’s 50-meter freestyle. The meet took place at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Indianapolis; Indiana.

Ervin, (then) 19 years old also swam on the 400-meter freestyle relay team at the Sydney Games.