Here are some black athletes who have all been a part of Team U.S.A. over the years at the Winter Olympics to celebrate Black History Month.
Debi Thomas (1967-present)
Debi Thomas is the first black athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics. She placed third in figure skating in 1988. Thomas started skating at the age of five and started competing at nine. In 1986 she placed first at the World Championships. During that same year, she also won a Candace Award for Trailblazing from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She is still the only black woman from the United States to win a medal in figure skating.
Vonetta Flowers (1973-present) In 2002 Vonetta Flowers became the first black athlete to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics when she and Jill Bakken placed first in the two-women bobsled event. Flowers also placed third in the 2004 World Championships with Jean Racine-Prahm. The pair also competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they placed sixth.
Shani Davis (1982-present) Shani Davis is the first black athlete to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in an individual competition. Davis completed in speedskating. He has two Olympic gold medals and two Olympic silver medals. Shani Davis has also set nine world records and was the inspiration for the character Frozone from the movie The Incredibles.
Jordan Greenway (1997-present) Jordan Greenway is the first black person to be on the U.S.A. Olympic ice hockey team. He completed at the 2018 Winter Olympics. The team that year placed seventh out of twelve teams. Greenway has also won gold at the 2015 IIHF Men’s Under-18 World Championship and the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Did you know that according to 50 Bits of Valentine’s Day Trivia You Probably Didn’t know” states that passing out Valentines is a 600-year-old tradition?
The first known official celebration of Saint Valentine’s Day took place in Paris on February 14, 1400, which is when King Charles VI of France established the High court of love.
The oldest record of a Valentine is a poem by Charles, the Duke of Orleans, written to his wife when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1415, in which he refers to his wife as his “Valentine.”
People believe that there are two different theories about the origin of Valentine’s Day.
The first theory is that some believe that the day derives from Lupercalia, which was a raucous Roman festival on February 15 where men stripped naked and spanked young maidens in the hopes of increasing their fertility.
The second theory is that while the Roman Emperor Claudius II was trying to bolster his army, he forbade young men to marry. In the spirit of love, St. Valentine defied the ban and performed secret marriages, and for his disobedience, Valentine was executed on February 14 around the year 270 A.D.
Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day each year on February 14 by sending cards or letters, giving gifts such as chocolates or flowers, and having meals in restaurants.
In classrooms, Valentine’s Day is a time for children to share Valentine’s day cards with their friends and classmates.
With COVID being an ongoing disruption of life, virtual events are becoming more and more available and routine. Here are some interesting ones that are free and can act as a safe and fun activity to treat yourself to on Valentine’s Day or invite others and celebrate the day.
It is recommended that you “wear comfortable clothing that you can move in, make sure you have a strong internet connection, and enough space around you to move a few steps in each direction.” To find more information on Christina and her belly dancing studio and classes, go to her website https://www.easterngroove.com/.
For those interested in Psychics, the Online Spiritual Academy has a free psychic mediumship reading. “Your one-on-one reading will give you clear communication regarding your life’s direction. Please allow an hour of your time for the session.”
If psychics aren’t your thing, how about an acting class? Taught by actor/director Tom Mendola, “this free, VIRTUAL acting class, you will learn new skills for confidence in auditioning, how to make an impact through your acting, and new tools for improving your ability to connect in the scene.” Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-virtual-acting-class-with-director-tom-mendola-tickets-254299465547 The class is on Monday from 10:00 pm-12:00 am.
Last but not least, for Valentine’s Day, take a virtual trip along the Nile with Khaled. This “live event from Egypt with KHALED K., Local Egyptologist and licensed tour guide,” will present you and your loved ones an immersive experience learning about ancient Egypt and “will take you back in time to discover the history of this interesting temple and explain the religious significance of this site, which can be seen as a meeting point of three religions: the ancient Egyptian religion, Christianity, and Islam.”
Defiance College Athletics stayed busy this weekend despite the cold and snowy weather. The Yellow Jackets hosted three athletic events at Karl H. Weaner Center this weekend.
Athletic events included Men’s and Women’s Basketball games against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) competitors the Transylvania Pioneers (Transylvania, KY).
Yellow Jacket Wrestling also hosted a match against the Penn State Behrend Lions (Erie, PA) and the Wilmington College Quakers (Wilmington, OH).
The Yellow Jackets Women’s Basketball team faced off against the Pioneers at 1:00 pm in the Weaner Center, taking on the Pioneers, who are ranked No. 2 in the country in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Starting for your Yellow Jackets were Sophomore Kylie Brinkman, Juniors Taylor Steinbrunner and Lauren Criblez, and Seniors Taylor Day and Nysha Speed.
The game started strong, but the Yellow Jackets trailed the Pioneers 14-12 after the first quarter. The Yellow Jackets got outscored in the second quarter, trailing by 14 at the half. Starting play up again in the third, the Pioneers came out strong, but the Jackets fought back, pulling the game within 10 points. Despite the hard-fought battle, the Yellow Jacket fell to the Pioneers with a final score of 87-53, making the Yellow Jackets record fall to 6-5 in HCAC play and 11-7 overall.
Key contributors to the contest include Junior Lexie Sparks dropping 8 points off the bench for the Yellow Jackets, Sophomores McKenzie Cooper and Taylor Linkous each added 7 points off of the bench as well.
The Yellow Jacket’s Men’s Basketball team also took on the Pioneers on Saturday at 3:00 pm in the Weaner Center. Starting for your Yellow Jackets were Freshman Landen Swanner, Sophomore Andre Edwards, Junior Desanji Beamon, and Seniors Tyler Andrew and Marrel Jordan. The game started very back and forth and tooth and nail.
Both teams were fighting for points and boards every possession. Going into halftime, the Yellow Jackets took a 37-28 lead. However, the Pioneers fought back to bring the contest within ten in the second half.
Sophomore Cam Awls drained a clutch shot to give the Yellow Jackets a 70-67 lead with about 25 seconds left in an exciting last-minute shot. The Yellow Jackets held their ground to get a massive win over the Pioneers.
Rounding out the weekend, the Yellow Jacket Wrestling hosted a dual meet and came up strong with two wins over the Penn State Behrend Lions and the Wilmington Quakers. The Yellow Jackets were able to get a quick lead against the Lions through a couple of forfeits in the 125lb, 133lb, and 141lb weight class to start the match. Senior Cortez Bradley kept the flow, coming up with a big win in the 149lbs match. Other key contributing factors to this big Yellow Jacket victory include pins from Matthew Beard in the 157lbs match, Keringten Martin in the 165lbs match, Jack Minner in the 184lbs match, and Jonah Schlegel in the heavyweight match.
The Yellow Jackets quickly started their second match against the Quakers, with more forfeits in the 125lbs and 133lbs matches. Seniors Alex Smith and Bradley won their matches by technical fall to help push the Yellow Jackets to victory. Smith won his match 16-0 Bradley won 16-1. Another key factor in this Yellow Jackets win includes Matthew Beard’s second win of the night in the 157lbs match. Martin also earned his second win of the night. Your Yellow Jackets beat the Quakers 28-21 in the dual.
Each year Defiance College BASA puts on activities and events to celebrate this special time of the year.
This year, though, BASA will not have events every day, but they will still maintain the month-long celebration with various workshops, documentaries, and discussions.
Last year, the theme of their Black History Month celebration was heavily centered on self-care, wellness, and spirituality as a means of holistic healing. The college encouraged mindfulness and prioritizing oneself through an array of activities that were five days a week for every week in February.
Noelani Schmidt, a DC student, helping prepare the BASA’s BHM events, told the Defender about how the focus for this year will be on the significance of hair and what that means to an individual in terms of spiritual identity and self-expression. Hair plays a prominent role in many Black lives and is often more criticized than celebrated.
This year, BASA will be promoting hair love through workshops, a curated playlist, and they are hoping to install an art exhibition centered around the history of Black hair in the United States.”
They are also curating a workshop that discusses hair and perhaps a small class on protective styles so students can learn to maintain their hair with the changing seasons.
BASA is also hoping to initiate a Black History Month fitness challenge for DC students and collaborate with Dr. Steven Engel to release a special edition of the Progeny at the end of the month.
They are also hoping to collaborate with Live Light Fitness for our fitness challenge.
They will be working with AJ Ramirez to host a photoshoot for students to include their photos in the spread.
BASA hopes to collaborate with TTA Healing Studios for dance, mindful movement, reiki, and divination workshops.
Black History Month is an annual celebration that started in the US in 1926. It was conceived by historian Carter G Woodson who proposed marking a time to honor African Americans and raise awareness of Black History. Black History Month is celebrated in February because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Black History Month is celebrated annually from February 1st through March 1st.
Black History Month is a time to recognize African Americans and Blacks for their accomplishments and achievements throughout history.
Whether it is Black History Month or not, it is always important to recognize the works and accomplishments of Black people. Today, however, we are showcasing some great musicians.
Camille Lively, Director of Music Programs and Head of Choral and Vocal Studies here at DC, said, “I love Nina Simone and Moses Hogan.”
Here are some more Black musicians that are pretty neat.
Harriet Gibbs Marshall (1868-1941) Harriet Gibbs Marshall, a pianist, spent most of her early life in Oberlin, Ohio. She even graduated from Oberlin College with a music degree. She was the first African American woman to graduate from that school with a music degree. She was also the first African American woman to graduate with a music degree in the United States. In 1903 she founded the Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression, where African Americans learn music. It was open until 1960, and it is the longest running music school for African Americans.
Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) Ella Fitzgerald, also known as “The First Lady of Song,” was a jazz singer who won 13 Grammy Awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her voice range was vast, so that she could sing a variety of different music types. Fitzgerald worked with many other jazz musicians like Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole. She also traveled all around the world doing concerts. By the end of her life, she had recorded over 200 albums, and her last concert was at Carnegie Hall. It was also her 26th time performing there.
Barry White (1944-2003) Barry White is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. To be the best selling music artist, one has to sell over 75 million records, and he sold over 100 million. Some of his hits include “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” and “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe.” Because of his appearance and voice, he is known as “The Walrus of Love.” Barry White also won two Grammy Awards, is in the Dance Music Hall of Fame, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Rosa Parks is a historical figure and an inspiration to many. She helped pave the way during the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. However, not many know about a 15-year-old girl who did the same thing nine months before Rosa.
This 15-year-old girl is Claudette Colvin, and she is still alive today at the age of 82. Claudette was born on September 5, 1939, in Montgomery, Alabama.
In 1955, Claudette was a student at the segregated Booker T. Washington High school in the city. Claudette relied on the cities buses to get to school and home. However, the busses were segregated at the time, and those of color had to sit in the back of the bus. Claudette was part of the NAACP youth group, learning about the civil rights movement. On March 2, 1955, Claudette went on a bus and sat in the colored section. At a bus stop, a white customer came onto the bus.
The bus driver commanded Claudette and three others to give up their seats. Claudette, who had learned about the Civil rights movement, knew she had rights, and decided not to give up her seat.
The cops were called, and she was forcibly removed from the bus and arrested. She was bailed out by her minister, who told her that she brought the revolution to Montgomery.
Claudette was convicted of three charges in juvenile court; however her cause was appealed to the Montgomery Circuit Court on May 6, 1955, and the charges of disturbing the peace and violating the segregation laws were dropped.
Although her conviction for assaulting a police officer was upheld. Claudette never assaulted a police officer, which means she was convicted for something she never did. Later there would be a case of Browder V. Gayle, which would go to the courts and eventually ended bus segregation in Alabama.
Claudette didn’t get the recognition she deserved for many reasons. Right after standing up for her rights, she became pregnant. This made a huge controversy which sadly led to the civil rights leaders refusing to help her. They were afraid it would cause more harm than good. Even though Claudette didn’t get the recognition she deserved, she did so much to pave the way for people’s rights today, and she left an amazing legacy to inspire many.
Black History Month is upon us. Here are three black scientists you should know about.
Dr. Alexa Irene Canady (1950-present)
In 1981, Alexa Canady became the first black woman to become a neurosurgeon. She received her medical degree from the University of Michigan. From 1987 to 2001, she was the chief of neurosurgery at a children’s hospital in Michigan. Canady also worked on research and was a professor at Wayne State University. Before retiring, she was a part-time neurosurgeon at the Pensacola Sacred Heart Hospital in Florida from 2001 to 2012. Alexa Canady also received the American Medical Women’s Association President’s Award, the Distinguished Service Award from Wayne State University Medical School, the Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She was also inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
Dr. Gladys Mae West (1930-present) Gladys West created the model of the Earth that is used as the basis for the Global Positioning System or GPS. She also became the second black woman to work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in 1956. While she worked there, she was a programmer and a project manager. Before that, she was a math and science teacher. West received her Bachelor of Science in mathematics and her Master of Mathematics at Virginia State University. She also received another master’s degree in public administration and a Ph.D. in public administration. In 2018 Gladys West was inducted into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame and won Female Alumna of the Year at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awards. She also received the Prince Philip Medal from the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering in 2021.
Dr. Walter Lincoln Hawkins (1911-1992) Walter Lincoln Hawkins was a chemist and engineer who worked at Bell Laboratories, where he was the first black person to be on the technical staff. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, a master’s degree in chemistry, and a doctorate in chemistry. While working at Bell Laboratories, he became the supervisor of applied research and became head of his department. Hawkins also developed the plastic coating for telephone wires, making universal service possible. Because of his studies, he won many awards, including the National Medal of Technology, the International Medal of the Society of Plastics, the Burton C. Belden Award, the Percy L. Julian Award, the International Award of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the Honor Scroll of the American Institute of Chemists.
The Defiance College Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams had a weekend full of gameplay as the regular season dies down. In doubleheader action, the Yellow Jackets swept the visiting Franklin College Grizzlies on Saturday, January 22nd. On Saturday, the women’s team faced off with tip-off set for 2 pm in the Karl H. Weaner Center against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) opponent, the Franklin College Grizzlies (5-12, 3-7). The Yellow Jackets were led by junior Taylor Steinbrunner and senior Taylor Day. Both Steinbrunner and Day chipped in 11 points for the Yellow Jackets victory. Day recorded 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, while Steinbrunner added 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
Another key factor in the Yellow Jacket’s big win is the bench. Junior, Lexie Sparks recorded 8 points off the bench. In total, the DC bench outscored Franklin’s bench 19-17. The Yellow Jackets won the HCAC contest, 65-60. The women’s team would face off next on Sunday, January 23rd, at home against the Hiram Terriers. The men’s team quickly faced off at 4 pm in the Karl H. Weaner Center against the Franklin Grizzlies (8-9, 4-6), soaring past them to round out the day of HCAC action.
The Yellow Jackets defeated the Grizzlies 65-52. The Yellow Jackets were led to victory by a strong starting bench. Seniors Tyler Andrew and Marell Jordan chipped in 12 and 7 points. Andre Edwards added 10 rebounds, and sophomore Dejsani Beamon added 9 points. Other key components to this big Yellow Jacket win include the bench outscoring the Grizzlies bench 31- 27, shooting 26 of 63 as a team from the field and outscoring the Grizzlies 11-2 off turnovers.
The energy within the Karl H. Weaner Center also helped to excel the Yellow Jackets to a win. The Yellow Jackets improve to 6-8 overall. The Yellow Jackets will hit the road for their next three games, looking to collect wins at the HCAC competitors Mt. St. Joseph University (6-10-0), Hanover College (13-2-0), and Manchester University (7-10-). Rounding out the weekend, the DC Women’s team continued to play again on Sunday, January 23rd, versus a non-HCAC opponent, the Hiram Terriers (4-11).
The Yellow Jackets played a tough game, losing the game 70-69 to a buzzer-beater shot made by the Terriers in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The Jackets fought tooth and nail with a big-time performance from junior Taylor Steinbrunner. Steinbrunner surpassed her career-high of 25 points from earlier this season against HCAC opponent Mt. St. Joe, recording a total of 26 points against Hiram. Steinbrunner also added 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Other significant game contributors include junior Lexie Sparks adding 9 points and 5 rebounds off the bench, sophomore Kylie Brinkman adding 8 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, and senior Nysha Speed adding 8 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The Yellow Jackets move to 9-6 overall and 6th in the HCAC.
You can catch more Yellow Jacket action this Wednesday, January 26th, at home as they take on HCAC opponent, Mt. St. Joseph. Tip-off is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.
On November 30, 1924, a strong, intelligent woman who wasn’t afraid to break down barriers was born in Brooklyn, New York. This woman is Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm.
Shirley was the oldest of four sisters, and her parents were immigrants. When she was five years old, she and two sisters were sent to their grandmother’s house in Barbados, where they could be taken care of.
Shirley once said, “Granny gave me strength, dignity, and love. I learned from an early age that I was somebody. I didn’t need the black revolution to tell me that”.
Shirly lived on her grandmother’s farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse until 1934, when she returned to the United States. In 1939 Shirly attended Girls’ High School in Brooklyn, where she thrived in academics and became Vice President of the Junior Arista Honor Society.
After high school, Shirley attended Brooklyn College, where she didn’t have to pay for tuition due to scholarships and could live at home and commute to school.
Shirley graduated college in 1946, majored in Sociology, and minored in Spanish. Shirley was a member of Delta Sigma Theta and the Harriet Tubman Society. In the late 1940s, Shirley met Conrad O. Chisholm, and they would later wed in 1949.
After graduating from college, Shirly began working as a teacher’s aide at the Mt. Calvary Child Care Center in Harlem. While she was teaching, she attended night classes at Teachers College Columbia University and earned her masters in Childhood Education in 1951.
Shirley entered the political world in 1953, where she joined Wesley “Mac” Holder’s effort to elect Lewis Flagg Jr. to the bench as the first black judge in Brooklyn. Later, Shirley left the Flagg election group in 1958 after they transformed into the Bedford–Stuyvesant Political League (BSPL).
Shirley left due to clashing with the group, where she wanted to push to give more female members of the group more input, but the group didn’t agree. Shirley worked and volunteered in clubs like the Brooklyn Democratic Club and League of Women Voters.
Photo from history.com
In 1960 Shirley joined the Unity Democratic Club, where she helped campaign Thomas R. Jones run for an assembly seat and won after their second try, which made Jones Brooklyn’s second black assemblyman. Shirley was a New York State Assembly member from 1965 to 1968.
Then in 1968, Shirley was elected as the Democratic National Committeewoman. In 1960 Shirley ran for the US House of Representatives for the New York 12th Congressional District. Quickly Shirley gained organizational support, and her slogan was “Unbought and unbossed.”
On June 18, 1968, Shirley won the primary election in an upset election beating James Farmer, making Shirley the first black woman elected into Congress.
When Shirley entered into Congress, the Speaker of the House assigned Shirley to serve on the House Agriculture Committee even though she represented an urban district.
Shirley found this placement irrelevant to her constituents and was very angry about the placement. Shirley confided in Rebbe Menachem M. Schneerson about her anger about the placement. Schneerson suggested that Shirley use surplus food to help the poor and hungry. She would go on to do just that.
Shirley worked hard on expanding the food stamp program. She played a critical role in creating the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
She finally was rewarded a place on the Education and Labor Committee, which was the committee she wanted all along.
Later, Shirley was assigned to the Veteran’s Affairs Committee.
During Shirley’s days in Congress, she only hired women for her Washington DC office and Brooklyn District office, and half of them were black. In the later years of her term, she did hire some men, but most of her employees were women. Shirley would later state that she faced more discrimination due to her gender than her race.
In 1971 Shirley joined the Congressional Black Caucus as its founding member. In the same year, she was also a founding member of the National Women’s Political Caucus. On January 25, 1972, in a baptist church in Shirley’s district in Brooklyn, Shirley announced her presidential bid.
Shirley became the first African American for a major party’s nomination for the President of the United States. This also made Shirley the first woman to ever run for the Democratic Party’s Presidential Nomination.
Shirley stated, “I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate for the Women’s Movement of this country, although I am a woman and equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people, and my presence before you symbolizes a new era in American political history”.
Unfortunately, Shirley wasn’t taken seriously as a candidate and didn’t win the nomination to be the Democratic Nominee for the Presidential election.
In February of 1982, Shirley announced her retirement. Even though she was retired, she was still involved in politics and returned to teaching.
On January 1, 2005, Shirly Chisholm passed away, leaving an inspiring legacy behind as well as her slogan “unbought and unbossed.”
