TUSD AASSD @TUSDAASSD

ICYMI: Congratulations to our middle and high school students being recognized for academic excellence at our 35th Annual African American Student Recognition Program! Watch the full recognition video here: tusd1.org/Departments/Af…

An author that has beautifully captivated the minds of many, Sister Souljah was born in 1964 in the Bronx. She is a best selling author & community activist. Her best selling books include No Disrespect, Midnight: A Gangster Love Story & The Coldest Winter Ever. #BHM #dailyfacts

Born in 1918, Kenny Washington was an African American professional football player and was the first African American to sign a contract with a National Football League (NFL) Team. Washington passed away in 1971. Source: wasingtonpost.com #BHM #dailyfacts

Althea Gibson, born in 1927, became the first African American Woman to win Wimbledon. Althea inspired and cleared the way for many others including Serena Williams. Gibson passed away in 2003. Source: history.com #BHM #dailyfacts

Born in 1926, Charles Cooper signed with the Harlem Globetrotters team as he graduated from college in 1950. He passed away in 1984. Source: history.com #BHM #dailyfacts

Leroy Robert 'Satchel' Paige was the first African American pitcher to pitch in the World Series. He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1971. He earned the nickname Satchel when he was carrying bags & satchels at railroad stations for passengers. #BHM #dailyfacts

Ozzie Newsome was the first African American General Manager of an NFL team. He also never missed a game in his 13-year NFL career. Ozzie played for the Cleveland Browns & was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame & the Pro Football Hall of Fame. #BHM #dailyfacts

Isaac Murphy was one of the greatest jockeys of all time. His career lasted 19 years and included three Kentucky Derby wins. Every year he won a 3rd of his mounts. Isaac was the son of a former slave and died at 34 years of age. #BHM #dailyfacts

Alice Coachman was the first Black woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in the high jump competition, as well as the first Black woman selected for the Olympic team. #BHM #dailyfacts

All Negro Comics became the first comic book produced by African Americans in 1947. It represents the first known comics magazine written and drawn solely by African American writers and artists. #BHM #dailyfacts

The Mills Brothers were the first African American artists to have a #1 hit on the Billboard Charts in 1943, with (Paper Doll). It is one of the fewer than forty all-time singles to have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. #BHM #dailyfacts

Ethel Walters was an African American singer & actress. Waters frequently performed jazz, swing and pop music on the Broadway stage & in concerts. She was also the first African American to star in her own television program, The Ethel Walters show, on NBC. #BHM #dailyfacts

Sherman "Jacko" Maxwell was a sportscaster & chronicler of Negro league baseball. Many journalists of his day believed Maxwell was the first African American sports broadcaster in history. Although great at his craft, he never received pay by any radio station. #BHM #dailyfacts

Patricia Bath was the first African American woman to complete ophthalmology residency in the U.S. & inventor of Laserphaco Probe used to treat cataracts. Born November 4, 1942 in Harlem, New York, she pursued her medical degree at Howard University. #BHM #dailyfacts

Inventor of the Super-Soaker water gun, Lonnie Johnson was born in Mobile, Alabama on October 6, 1949 & was a NASA engineer. Originally attempting to create and environmentally friendly & Freon free heat pump, he stumbled across the mechanism for a Super-Soaker. #BHM #dailyfacts

Lewis Latimer invented the carbon filament Thomas Edison would go on to use to create his light bulbs. He was born in Massachusetts, September 4, 1848. He served in the Navy during the Civil War. He then went on to teach himself mechanical drafting. #BHM #dailyfacts

Guion Bluford, the first African American to travel to space in 1983. Born November 22, 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became an Air Force fighter pilot & NASA astronaut who was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1996. #BHM #dailyfacts

Thurgood Marshall was the first African American Supreme Court Justice (1967-1991). He was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to becoming a Supreme Court Justice, he graduated from Lincoln University, then Howard Law & served as legal counsel for the NAACP. #BHM #dailyfacts

Kamala Harris: The first female Vice President of the United States, also the first Black & Southeast Asian Vice President. She was born October 20, 1964 in Oakland, California. She is a graduate from Howard University. #BHM #dailyfacts

Stacy Abrams was the first African American woman to hold a gubernatorial nomination from a major political party. Abrams was born in Madison, Wisconsin and her family relocated to Georgia where she served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2006-2017. #BHM #dailyfacts