THE EXERCISE & HUMAN PERMANCE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson

“Godfather of Black ”

PIONEER OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT IN SPORTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION

In 1904-1919 Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson introduced basketball to African Americans for the first time during his teaching career in the black public schools in Washington D.C. First African American, Certified Physical The MLB Recognizes the Former Education Teacher. Studied Physical Education at Harvard between1904-1907. Negro Leagues as a Major League Established the first ISAA - African American athletic leagues in 1906. Established the first Eastern Board of Officials/Referees for African Americans Director of Physical Education for the District of Columbia’s segregated black schools. In 1974, Henderson was inducted into the Black Athletes Hall of Fame as a founding A long overdue accomplishment will now be member. recognized. Negro League statistics from 1920 to 1948 will now be officially classified as “major In 2013, he was inducted into the league,” marking the accomplishments of players Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in who did not have the opportunity to play in the Springfield, Massachusetts American or National Leagues.

This means, players such as Willie Mays will move up on the statistics leader board for total number of hits, games played, RBI’s, ERA’s etc.

“All of us who love baseball have long known that the Negro Leagues produced many of our game’s best players, innovations, and triumphs against a backdrop of injustice,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement provided by the league., “We are now grateful to count the players of the Negro Leagues where Robert D. Manfred, Jr they belong: as major leaguers within the official Commissioner of historical record.”

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WILLIE O’REE 25 Black Athletes Who First Black Player in the NHL Changed the World Jack Johnson - Boxing Fredrick “Fritz” Pollard - Football Joe Louis - Boxing “THE JACKIE ROBINSON OF ICE Jesse Owens - Track & Field HOCKEY” Charlie Sifford - Golf

Willie O’Ree was the first person to break the Jackie Robinson - Baseball color barrier in the NHL. As a player for the Althea Gibson - Tennis hockey team the Aces, Willie O’Ree was blinded when he was hit in the Hank Aaron - Baseball right eye with a puck. An injury that he kept Wilma Rudolph - Track & Field ququietite as he knew this would hurt his chances of playing in the major leagues. He was called up Bill Russell - Basketball to the Bruins in 1958 and played in 2 games. In 1960-1961, he played in 43 games for Curt Flood - Baseball the Bruins before returning to the minor leagues Jim Brown - Football where he won 2 scoring titles in the Western Hockey league and continued to play in the Muhammad Ali - Boxing minors until age 43. John Carlos - Track & Field

O'Ree was inducted into the New Brunswick Tommie Smith - Track & Field Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. In 1998, the approached him to be Arthur Ashe - Tennis the director of youth development for its Magic Johnson - Basketball diversity task force. The NHL/USA Hockey Willie O’Ree first person to break the racial Diversity Task Force is a non-profit program barrier in the NHL. Michael Jordan - Basketball for minority youth that encourages children to Jackie Joyner-Kersee - T & F learn and play hockey. Craig Hodges - Basketball In 2018, Willie O’Ree was inducted into the National Hockey League Hall of Fame. Tiger Woods - Golf

Venus Williams - Tennis

Serena Williams - Tennis Dr. Rene Revis Shingles Alice Coachman - Track & Field In 2018, Dr. Rene Revis Shingles was inducted Sheryl Swoopes - Basketball into the National Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame as the first black woman to be inducted. In 1987, Dr. Shingles became only the 13th Black woman in the to become a certified athletic trainer. In 1996, she was identified by the United States Olympic Committee to serve as a trainer for the Olympic Games in , Georgia. She currently serves as a professor, program director, and internship coordinator for the School of Rehabilitation and Medical Sciences at Central Michigan University. Dr. Shingles received her bachelor degree in Physical and Health Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Rene Revis Shingles, PhD, AT, ATC a Master’s degree in Physical Education from Illinois State University, and a Ph.D. in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. She co-authored the first book on cultural competence in the athletic training field and is now considered a national expert on the subject matter. She is also a founding member of the NATA Ethnic Diversity Advisory Committee (EDAC) to the NATA board of directors.

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