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Negro National League
The Negro National League was the first successful organized league for African Americans. It was started in the 1920s at aYMCA in Kansas City, Missouri. The prime organizer and the one who served as president was Andrew "Rube" foster. He was arguably the best African American pitcher in the 19020s. The league began to fall apart during the depression years in 1932. Other leagues were created and continued to compete through 1948. -
Greatest Ever
float like a butterflyMuhammad Ali was a boxer and social activist. His original name is Cassius Clay but changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam. After winning he had won the World Heavyweight Champion was guilty of draft evasion because he refused to join the war due to his religious beliefs and his opposition of the war. Ali later became the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Championship. Ali was a great icon for more than his in ring performance but for his charisma outside of the ring -
Jackie Robinson
In 1947 Jackie Robinson made his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers breaking the baseball color line becoming the first black major league baseball player since the 1880s. He was a main instrument to bringing down the racial segregation in professional baseball and contributed significantly to the Civil Rights Movement. Jackie Robinson had a great career that resulted in an rookie of the year, the first black MVP in National League, six time All-Star and a World Series Championship. -
Alice Coachman
Alice was an American athlete that specialized in high jump. Alice dominated the AAU outdoor high jump championship for nearly an decade. She was unable to compete in the Olympics at first because they were canceled due to WWII. She got her chance in the 1948 Summer Olympics. She was the only American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in athletic and the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal. She also ran on an national championship 4 x 100-meter relay team. In 2002 she was announced a -
Tennis Star
Althea Gibson was the first African American woman to be a competitor in on the world tennis tour. She was also the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956. She was also ranked number 1 in the world rankings during her career and kept a top 10 ranking prior to that. She also became the first African American woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour in 1964. Best finish was tie for second. -
Fastest woman alive
Wilma Rudolph was once considered the fastest woman in the world. She competed in two Olympic Games in 1956 and 1960. In the 1960 Summer Olympics Wilma was the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games. She was reworded United Press Athlete of the Year in 1960 and Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year. In 1983 she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. She was also a civil rights and women’s rights pioneer. -
Unbreakable Record
Wilt Chamberlain was one of the most dominant Centers and players to ever play the game of basketball. He owns many individual records such as most all time rebounds and accurate field goal shooter. He is also responsible for some rule changes in the NBA because of his dominance. His Most known achievement was on March 2, 1962 when he scored 100 points against the New York Knicks. The closest to ever come to that was Kobe Bryant with 81 points. -
Player to Coach
Bill Russell was a dominant figure in the NBA for many years. He is one of the greatest Celtics to play the game. He was an five time MPV and 12 time All-Star. He also won 11 championships in his 13 year career with the Celtics. He holds the record for most championships won by an athlete in a North American Sports league. After his career he became the First African American NBA coach. He also won 2 NBA championships as a couch of the Celtics before leaving. -
1968 Olympics
Tommie Smith was a former track and field athlete who won the 200-meter dash finals with a 19.83 time. He was the first to break the 20 second barrier. John Carlos was also a former track and field athlete that won bronze in the 200 meter during the 1968 Olympics. What was most memorable about their achievement was their Black Power salute atop the medal podium. It became a symbolic moment for the Civil Rights movement. The Silver medalist Peter Norman also wore an OPHR badge to support the two. -
M.J
Michael Jordan is known as the greatest to ever play the game of Basketball. In 1982 Jordan became a part of the Chicago bulls where his legacy was born. He won his first championship in 1991 and the following two years giving him and three-peat. He retired to attempt baseball but returned to achieve another three-peat of championships and an NBA-record for single season wins. He left the league with many accolades that include NBA record for highest career regular season scoring average and hig -
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin Dungy was a former professional football player and also coach in the National Football League. He was coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts. Tony Dungy set an NFL record in 2008 by making ten consecutive playoff appearances. Also in 2007 he became the first African American head coach to win the Super Bowl when the Colts beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
