Today's Articles

People, Locations, Episodes

Thu, 07.08.2021

The First African American National Spelling Bee Winner is Crowned

Zaila Avant-garde

*On this date in 2021, the first African American won the Scripps National Spelling Bee.  Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, won.  The victory meant she became the first African American contestant to win in the 93 years of the competition.

The only Black winner before was Jody-Anne Maxwell, representing Jamaica in 1998. Zaila triumphed after correctly spelling murraya -- a type of tree -- to clinch the championship. To get there, the teen had to navigate her way through words like "querimonious," "solidungulate," and "Nepeta," a word the teen had to reset on and let out a joyous jump after her correct spelling.

New Poem Each Day

Poetry Corner

Slaves are said to have worked hard & long on this island Sunup to sundown & beyond Sundays & Christmas off Two clothes a year are memories bestowed to old... ST. HELENA ISLAND by Tom Dent.
Read More