Flying High

Let's keep flying high today! I was browsing on YouTube today and came across this inspiring video!




Courtesy: www.youtube.com/positiveblackstories
No copyright infringement intended.

Shoot for the Moon: Today's Black History Note

Walking on sunshine, more like walking in space as Bernard A. Harris, Jr., M.D., describes himself as a 'dreamer who believes nothing is impossible.' He was a NASA astronaut, in fact, the first African American astronaut to walk in space. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1990 and flew his first mission in 1993. It was his second mission in 1995 where Dr. Harris fulfilled a childhood dream of walking in space.  He has spent more than 438 hours of his life in space. He shot for the moon and truly landed among the stars.


Photo Courtesy: jsc.nasa.gov

Black History Note: First African American Professional Football Player

Charles Follis 1879-1910

Victor Cruz will be salsa dancing all night after the New York Giant's Superbowl XLVI win! Keeping up with the spirit of champions, let's remember Charles Follis the first African American professional football player. At his high school, Follis organized the first football team and was elected captain(1899). He attended college at Wooster College, but chose to play for a local amateur team instead. Upon graduation (1904), he signed a contract with the Shelby Blues of the Ohio League. Follis led the Blues with only one season loss. At the Thanksgiving Day game of the 1906 season, Follis suffered a career-ending injury.

Follis turned to baseball since  he played for Wooster and in the Ohio Trolley League. He played for the Cuban Giants,  an African American baseball team(since all the teams were segregated), as a catcher.  After playing on April 5, 1910, Follis caught the pneumonia and died of his sickness.             

A Look into Black History Sports



Ernie Davis 1939-1963

As we come off the signing day frenzy for many of our area high school football stars, let's remember Ernie Davis of Syracuse University. Davis' immaculate skill on the gridiron made him the first African American to win the Heisman trophy during his senior year at the university in 1961.

After college, the Heisman winner was signed to the Cleveland Browns but sadly never got to play a game. He was diagnosed with leukemia a few days before he was set to play in a college all-star game in Chicago. He died at the young age of 23.

Ernie Davis' life may have ended too soon, but it is remembered every time one of our own(Mark Ingram/Cam Newton) wins the honor of the Heisman. Thank you Ernie Davis and congratulations to all of our high school seniors that signed on Wednesday.

Where This Celebration Began



Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950)
Courtesy: kimpearson.net/hiphopwired.com

February may be the shortest month in the year, but our history is
long and began in 1926 with the efforts of Mr. Carter G. Woodson. The
‘father of black history’ was unable to receive any type of education
until he was 20 when he attended high school and later went to study
at the University of Chicago, Harvard and the Sorbonne in Paris.
Working as a school teacher, Woodson saw a void in education as his
students had little knowledge of the history and culture of African
Americans.

In 1926, Woodson created the first of what was to be an annual
celebration of African American achievement. It started as a weeklong
celebration, and in 1976 it was extended to last the entire month of
February. So here we are 86 years later and the celebration continues.
Thank Mr. Woodson for taking the first step