Black History 365 | # 94 Mae Jemison

Mae Jemison became the first black woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Jemison joined NASA’s astronaut corps in 1987 was selected to serve for the STS-47 mission, during which she orbited the Earth for nearly eight days on September 12–20, 1992.

Black History 365 | # 93 Louis Armstrong

Did you know a Jewish immigrant family helped Louis Armstrong buy his first horn? He dropped out of school and worked as a delivery boy for them. They started feeding him and eventually provided him with a bed while unofficially adopting him. He was known for wearing a necklace with the star of david on it.

Black History 365 | # 91 Richardson Viano

Did you know that a 19-year-old Haitian athlete, Richardson Viano was the sole representative of Haiti at the 2022 Winter Olympics? In fact he is the first Haitian Winter Olympian. Richardson was born in Haiti and was adopted by French-Italian couple Andrea Viano and Silvia Grosso-Viano from an orphanage along with two girls, Bellandine and Natacha. Richardson was introduced to skiing by his family via an instructor. He is 21 years old.

Black History 365 | # 85 El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (formerly Malcolm X)

In 1963, Malcolm X went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of the Islamic faith. He completely changed his mind about religion, race relations, and violence on that journey. He converted to Islam, and abandoned his belief in violence and separation. Instead, he began to hope for a true brotherhood of all races. He changed his name to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz to mark what he said was his journey from darkness to the light.

Black History 365 | # 90 Angela Davis

Did you know how radical Angela Yvonne Davis is? As a teenager she organized interracial study groups, which were broken up by the police. As a graduate student at the University of California San Diego she joined the Black Panthers and the Che-Lumumba Club, an all black branch of the Communist Party. She got hired then subsequently fired at The University Of California Los Angeles because of her associations. She fought back in court and got her job back. She left when her contract expired in 1970. She spent 18 months in jail due to her support of three prison inmates and their escape attempt during a court hearing which result in two inmates being killed in a shootout. She was acquitted in June 1972. Today she is a professor at the University of California Santa Cruz. She is 80 years old.