Black History Month started in 1926 when African American historian Carter G. Woodson founded a week that focused on celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans. So, to celebrate Black History Month, here is a list of a few black athletes who have helped to transform sports.
Jackie Robinson – Baseball
Jackie Robinson was an American baseball player and grew up in Cairo, Ga. He attended John Muir High School where he played numerous sports at the varsity level, including football, basketball and baseball.
According to the Jackie Robinson website, Robinson went to UCLA where he became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports. In his professional career, Robinson was approached by Branch Rickey, the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and was eventually signed, wearing the now infamous number 42.
This was a big deal during this time because an African American had not been in the Major Leagues since 1889. Robinson faced racial abuse by both the audience and his teammates. Teammates would constantly say they’d rather sit out than play with Robinson. But Robinson persevered and would go on to be the first baseball player to break the color barrier in the MLB that segregated the sport for more than 50 years.
Robinson went on to win awards like Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player of the Year. Robinson broke many barriers for baseball players of color and paved the way for many black athletes today.
Arthur Ashe – Tennis
Arthur Ashe was a professional tennis player. Today, many may know the name from the ESPYS award, but a lot of people don’t know his courageous journey. Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia, and started playing tennis at 7 years old. Ashe attended Maggie L. Walker High School, where he continued to master his tennis skills. During high school, he was banned from competing against white students, so he transferred for better opportunities.
Our founder Arthur Ashe won @Wimbledon on this day in 1975. We salute this legendary tennis player and humanitarian! #ArthurAshe #Wimbledon #OnThisDay pic.twitter.com/HsbJT8pIql
— ArthurAsheInstitute (@AAIUH2) July 5, 2021
According to Tennis Fame, Ashe was the No. 5 ranked junior in the country, won the National Junior Indoor Championship along with other numerous awards, and appeared in Sports Illustrated.
In his professional career, Ashe would go on to win three Grand Slam singles titles to become the first black player selected to the U.S. Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles titles at Wimbledon, The U.S. Open, and The Australian Open. In his later years, he was a civil rights activist, author, and educator.
Muhammad Ali – Boxing
Muhammad Ali was a professional heavyweight boxer. Ali grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and began amateur boxing at the age of 12. He attended Central High School in Louisville, where he faced many challenges, including being dyslexic, having a hard time reading, and growing up in the midst of segregation. He would often be denied things like service or even water because of the color of his skin.
On February 14, 1973, Ali abandoned his usual white terrycloth robe and wore a robe given to him by @ElvisPresley.
?: @LeiferNeil #MuhammadAli #AngeloDundee #Fight #Champion #JoeBugner #LasVegas #ConventionCenter #GOAT #Icon #ElvisPresley #Robe pic.twitter.com/WTaQqlXkZY
— Muhammad Ali (@MuhammadAli) February 14, 2022
Before the age of 18, he won six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles and, according to the biography website, won a gold medal at the Olympics.
In his professional career, he won the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship in 1964 among many other fights, fighting great boxers like Joe Frazier and George Foreman.
Ali is widely known for not only being one of the greatest boxers of all time but also standing up against racial issues and the war. Ali earned the nickname, “The Greatest,” and is known as one of the most influential black athletes in history.
Althea Gibson – Tennis
Althea Gibson was an American tennis player and professional golfer. Gibson was born in South Carolina and at a young age picked up tennis; she was winning championships by the age of 12. She would go on to become one of the first black athletes to cross the color barrier of international tennis.
Before there was Arthur, Serena or Naomi, there was Althea Gibson…Happy 94th birthday to this tennis legend who would be 94 years old today! #AltheaGibson pic.twitter.com/yvQY4m0Ug2
— ArthurAsheInstitute (@AAIUH2) August 25, 2021
She became the first black American to win a Grand Slam and the first black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She also won events like Wimbledon and the U.S Open along with many other titles.
She was voted Female of the year by the Associated Press, and she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Women’s Sports Hall of Fame. Gibson was a huge pioneer for not only black Americans in tennis but black athletes today.
