Introducing the Greatest Olympic Runner of All Time
The idea that Blacks are inherently stronger, faster and feel less pain than people of other races was used to justify slavery, ill-treatment and even unethical medical practices for hundreds of years. Though disproved by countless medical studies, the notion of Black “beastality” or other mischaracterizations are now used to undermine the hard work of Black athletes – claiming their success is based solely on “natural ability,” rather than the hard work, practice, and dedication required to achieve such success.
Although these viewpoints do not definitively capture the whole truth behind why African Americans have excelled in sports, they do highlight stereotypes that Black athletes have battled on their journeys toward greatness.
Despite these obstacles, African-Americans have dominated track and field for nearly a century. During the 1930s, Ralph Metcalfe who was deemed the “world’s fastest human,” and Jesse Owens, who garnered four Olympic Gold medals, set the bar extremely high for track athletes who followed. A decade later, Alice Coachman became the first Black woman to win an Olympic Gold medal. In 1961, a new star was born — and his name was Carl Lewis.
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Carl Lewis is one of the most decorated track athletes of all time. With 9 Olympic Gold medals, 1 Silver medal, and 10 World Championships medals, his presence in Olympic history is unparalleled.
Growing up in New Jersey, Carl Lewis had the proper support he needed to prepare for his outstanding career in track and field. Both Carl and his sister, Carol, benefited from use of their parent’s local athletic club. Carol went on to compete in the 1984 Olympics and won Bronze at the 1983 World Championships in the long jump.
As for Carl Lewis, he was recruited by colleges and universities from around the country. Ultimately, he settled on the University of Houston as his first choice. At Houston, he honed his skills as a long jumper and sprinter – – quickly rising through the ranks and becoming one of the nation’s top talents. As a sophomore, Lewis won NCAA championships in both the 100m dash and long jump. Jesse Owens was the only other person in NCAA history to accomplish that feat up until that point.
Lewis later competed in four Olympic Games and set multiple Olympic and world records in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and long jump before retiring in 1997. Four years after his retirement, Lewis was inducted into the USA Track and Field Hall of Fame.
Recently, Carl Lewis preserved his legacy by donating several personal items to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Among them include nine Gold Medals, a jersey worn in the 1984 Olympics, two Olympic torches carried by Lewis, a pair of track shoes, and several photographs.
Lewis completely embodied Black excellence in sports. Countless hours of practice, encouraging parents, and dedicated coaches cultivated Lewis into the sensational athlete he became — not simply his genetics. Thus, for his perseverance and uncanny work ethic, he will be remembered as the greatest Olympic runner of all-time.
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The post Introducing the Greatest Olympic Runner of All Time appeared first on PushBlack.
His case was controversial - the circumstances that initially led to him being placed on death row were sketchy, to say the least. Many that know his situation aren’t convinced that he’s guilty and consider him a political prisoner.
In late 2018, Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Leon Tucker ruled that Mumia had the right to appeal after years of fighting and being let down. Around the world, Mumia’s supporters got their hopes up about this new chance!
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But to many people’s shock and disgust, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has decided to fight the appeal.
Even though he’s one of the most notable progressive reform DA’s in the nation, he’s against Mumia’s appeal because it could force tons of closed cases to be reopened - including those that deserve to be reviewed again.
Mumia’s case remains one of the most controversial and debated cases relating to Black Power political prisoners. The police in Philadelphia have fought very hard to keep him locked up despite a global movement to free him.
Recent releases of Black Power activists like the Angola Three have led some to feel more optimistic about Mumia’s case.
But, with this DA pushing to keep him locked up, it’s clear that Mumia’s long-embattled fight for freedom could be far from over.
In June of 2012, everything changed for young people across the USA both inside of prison and outside of prison. In the historic Miller vs Alabama case, the Supreme Court ruled that sentencing juveniles to life without parole is unconstitutional.
What’s the difference between sentencing a child and an adult? Well, the age for starters. This trial made it clear that a child whose brain isn’t completely developed and immature isn’t the same as someone that’s grown.
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The Equal Justice Initiative’s founder, Bryan Stevenson, won the victory. He’d been representing kids on Death Row for decades prior to the decision. He told the Washington Post, “[T]hey [were] vulnerable and disabled and exposed in ways that adult clients weren’t.”
Research has shown Black kids are more likely to be seen as adults by police officers and by others in society. This contributes to the disproportionate arrests and sentencing that gives us the racist results we see in the criminal justice system.
Some of those who were unfairly sentenced beforehand have been able to have their cases reheard and appealed. Since a cell won’t solve all the problems kids face in our society, this decision was a monumental change.
Thanks to a decade’s worth of interwoven storylines, fans of the previous 19 Marvel Universe films will find closure with the 20th release, “Avengers: Endgame.”
Some enthusiastic fans are going all out for the premiere down to this fantasy-driven wardrobe choice.
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Cosplay (short for “costume play”) is a fun culture dating back to the 1930s in which fans fashion costumes, makeup, and weaponry after their favorite fictional characters.
Black nerds (or “blerds”) especially enjoy the sense of community, freedom, and creativity that comes from cosplay events like film premieres. But this culture’s impact goes even deeper than that.
Heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities. Their story arcs empower the underdog or those who society might consider different and therefore threatening or lesser than.
Blerds especially can relate to feeling cast out and underappreciated by those in power - until it’s time to save the day, of course!
Many cosplayers (like Instagram users @kieraplease, @PanteronaCosplay, @kayyybear, and @mynamesash_) have HUGE collections of past looks you can enjoy browsing right now.
The carefree way this hobby is inspiring Black youth and adults alike to celebrate their quirky identities free from judgment is the kind of lighthearted joy we need in these dark times.
Black bookstores are sacred community resources. But because of rising costs and shrinking profits, they’re disappearing.
What happens if these crucial spaces for Black uplift and community building disappear forever?
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Black bookstores are about more than books. They bring Black authors and intellectuals to discuss new work. They host study groups and provide space for community organizations to host meetings. They hold children’s events.
And, of course, they sell books that mainstream outlets don’t carry.
“We need Black bookstores... to see the diversity and depth of our people. [They’re] a place to understand the realities we’ve faced and to plot the path we must tread,” says L'Heureux Lewis-McCoy, PhD, a professor of Black Studies.
Massive online companies like Amazon, though, can sell books at much lower prices.
But Amazon has NO interest in Black liberation - they’re only interested in profit. Is that what you want your hard-earned dollars to support?
Entering a Black bookstore can be a powerful experience. They are experts on Black intellectual activity, can recommend books you’ve never heard of, or connect you to other people interested in similar things. And they’re often local centers of Black cultural activity.
Isn’t that worth the extra couple dollars you might spend?
See if there’s a Black bookstore left in your city - your patronage might be what keeps these essential resources alive.
On Christmas 2016, Hidden Figures brought the stories of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson – three pioneering Black women mathematicians – to the big screen. Their work behind the scenes at NASA formed the calculations responsible for successfully sending John Glenn into orbit around the earth. While history books recorded this feat from the astronaut’s perspective, historians have failed to adequately represent the masterminds behind NASA’s early accomplishments. Johnson, Vaughan, and Jackson were “Hidden Figures.” Hidden Figures offers us the accurate history of the events leading up to the launch of the “Friendship 7” in 1962 and restores a sense of humanity to all of the African American women who made it possible.
Although their pure brilliance is impressive enough, what makes the efforts of Johnson, Vaughan and Jackson truly groundbreaking is the way they traversed a tumultuous social climate in order to change the course of history. In a Jim Crow segregated south, these women overcame daily adversity in the workplace quite similar to what’s seen today through the #BlackWomenAtWork movement. While they performed the same work as their white counterparts, African American women were paid less, and relegated to separate bathroom and dining facilities. Further, many of these women were forced to retake courses that they had already passed to meet NASA’s requirements ….and were still skipped over for promotions.
Sound familiar?
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Though African Americans, especially women, were considered second-class citizens, America needed all hands on deck to ensure advancement in the global Space Race on the brink of World War II. With the agitation of A. Philip Randolph, the Black father of the labor movement, as well as the needed for more bodies and brains in the preparation for war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 8802, forbidding “discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin.” This landmark order opened the door for African American women to occupy new positions in the workforce.
Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson were not the only “human computers” to work in the West Area division of the Langley Research Center for NASA. However, they were exemplars who rose through the ranks during a time when women were not typically considered for advanced positions.
Johnson became NASA’s first African American aerospace technologist (eventually winning the Presidential Medal of Freedom), Vaughan became NASA’s first African American manager, and Jackson became the first Black female engineer at NASA. In each instance, these women transcended racial barriers with dignity and class while making it possible for other African Americans to follow in their footsteps.
Hidden Figures is a literal depiction of #BlackGirlMagic. It serves as a timely reminder that we must continue to protect the legacy of unparalleled African American achievement in this country. With the current dearth of African Americans pursuing careers in the STEM fields relative to other racial and ethnic groups, this film motivates us and highlights role models that we (and our children) can strive to become.
The Black women who spearheaded these aerospace efforts are unsung heroes who epitomize the values of resilience, perseverance, and persistence. If you have not seen the film, go get your daily dose of Black history and let us know that you agree!
The post Never Doubt What Happens When A Black Woman Masters Math appeared first on PushBlack.
Revolts by enslaved people were happening around the Caribbean in the 1800s, but none were as big as the one that happened in Jamaica. Known as the Baptist War – or the Christmas Rebellion – this revolt was the largest revolt by enslaved people in the British Caribbean.
Thousands of people came together and waged a “war” against British colonizers. Of the 300,000 enslaved people on the island, 60,000 took part in the rebellion. British colonizers didn’t have much a chance as the rebels outnumbered them 12 to 1.
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Economic depression affected many of the enslaved people on plantations. They demanded a working wage and more free time. The owners wouldn’t allow it. At the same time, talks of abolishing slavery were happening at the British Parliament. The owners’ reluctance to emancipation further upset enslaved peoples who were not pleased with their current work conditions.
Inspired by other revolts that happened in Guyana and other Caribbean islands, Samuel “Daddy” Sharpe, an enslaved African, planned the revolt. He had more freedom than most to travel around the island. He used that freedom to visit plantations, gather a group of leaders and secretly create plans for the revolt.
On Christmas Day, leaders of the revolt went on strike and wouldn’t return to work until their demands were met. Of course, the owners refused. Two days, later the rebellion started. At Kensington Estate, fields were burned and plantations were destroyed.
Confrontations between Black regiments and local militia happened all over the island for 11 days. At the end of the rebellion, 14 colonizers were killed and over 200 rebels were killed. Three hundred more were executed in the aftermath. Although the rebellion was suppressed, it pushed Britain to grant full emancipation in Jamaica.
Just like other uprisings over time, the fight for freedom was not an easily fought battle. As protests happen all over the country for the government to recognize that Black lives matter, it is these moments in history that remind us battles for justice are not easily won, but they are well fought.