Black History IS American History: Isaac Burns Murphy

Photograph courtesy Library of Congress

Isaac Burns Murphy was considered "the greatest jockey in the history of the sport".  Born into slavery in 1856  in Clark County, Kentucky, Isaac began his racing career at the tender age of 14. In 1884 he won his first Kentucky Derby on a horse that was owned by a Black man. Isaac became the first jockey to ride winning mounts in the Derby three times and the first to win the prestigious race for two consecutive years. His talent would eventually make him one of the highest paid athletes and one of the most famous Black men in America, at that time. Isaac Burns Murphy had a career win - loss record of an incredible 628 out of 1412 starts. He passed away in 1896.

Black History IS American History : Patricia Roberts Harris

Photograph courtesy Bethune Museum

Patricia Roberts Harris was an Attorney, an Ambassador and a Cabinet Member. Patricia completed her undergraduate studies summa cum laude at Howard University, an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) in Washington, D.C. After graduating with honors from Washington University's law school in 1960, she was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the District of Columbia bar.  She eventually was granted tenure as a professor of law at Howard University in 1963. Patricia was later named dean of the university's School of Law in 1969, becoming the first Black woman to head a law school in the United States. This would be one of many First for her. President Lyndon Johnson appointed Patricia Ambassador to Luxembourg; the first Black woman to receive an ambassadorship. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed her to the post of Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; the first Black woman to hold a Cabinet-level position. Patricia Roberts Harris went on to become Secretary of Health and Human Services in 1979.

Black History IS American History: Jesse Owens

Photograph: Courtesy Washington, D.C. Public Library

Although February is designated as Black History Month, I don't think telling the stories of the people who changed and continue to impact our Nation should be limited to only one month out of the year! Black History IS American History and should be celebrated Everyday! Although my Blog is usually shared once a month, during February I will present the story of an outstanding Black American every week. This week I'm sharing the life of Jesse Owens, a history making athlete and activist.

Jesse Owens is remembered as one of the world's greatest track and field athletes. He competed as a low hurdler, a broad jumper and a sprinter. Jesse was born in Danville, Alabama and would later attend The Ohio State University, in Columbus, Ohio. One of the most memorable moments in his athletic career happened at the 1936 Olympics in Munich, Germany. This was a time when Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was in power. Prior to the Olympic games, Hitler had bragged to the world that no Black athlete would beat any of his Aryan athletes. However not only did Jesse Owens beat the Germans, but he won four gold medals as an angry Hitler watched. At that time, Jesse was the most successful athlete of the games and the first American to win four track and field gold medals at a single Olympics. And because of his decisive win, embarrassing and dispelling Hitler's racist beliefs, Hitler refused to present Jesse with his medals. 

Although Jesse had proven himself as an athlete and had represented America with honor and respect, when he returned to the United States he experienced some of the same racial prejudice that occurred in Nazi Germany. For many years, that racial prejudice made it very difficult for him to make a living. It wasn't until 1976, when Jesse was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom that his achievements were fully realized. Jesse Owens died in 1980 at the age of 66.