Transcript Slide 1

African American Sport Heroes
Issaac Murphy, Major Taylor,
Jessie Owens, Wilma Rudolph
Black Jockeys
Road to Glory
Jocko
Black Stable “Boy”
Horse Racing: Early Years
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1665: First Recorded Races: Long
Island, NY
For two Centuries. The majority of
riders were black.
By 19th Century: Blacks made-up about
1:4 riders.
Horse Racing
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1800 - South- Majority of Jockeys were slaves
After Civil War- Decline in the Black Jockey
: Charges of Dishonesty and Pulling Mounts
Stakes Races:
Travers (1864), Sara Toga (1868)
1st Black Kentucky Derby Winner: Oliver Lewis
Isaac Murphy
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Born in Kentucky, 1861
In 1882, his salary was $10,000 per year plus
$25.00 for every winning ride.
1890, 1884 – Became the first jockey to win two
Kentucky Derby’s.
Isaac rode in 1,412 races and won 628 (44%)
Jockey Club (1894) formed to license riders.
1875 – First Kentucky Derby (13-15 jockeys
were Black). 1 .5 miles ( time: 2:37)
Blacks won 15 of the first 28 Derby Runs
Kentucky Derby ( Black
Riders)
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William Walker- 1877 (20 years)
George Jarrett- 1886
Babe Hurd- 1882
Erskine Henderson- 1885
Alonzon Clayton - 1887
Henry King- 1921 (finished 10th)
Jimmy Winkfield ( Wink): 1928
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Won Kentucky Derby:
1901 and 1902
Best Derby record: 2
wins, 1 second, one
3rd
Rode horses in: Russia,
Poland
Forced to leave Russia
in 1919
Retired in 1933: 2,600
victories in 10 countries
Died in France: 1974
National Sporting Library:
Middleburg, Virginia
Cycling
Revolutionized Bike Industry
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Safety bicycle: designed and
commercially produced by John StarleyEngland ( 1880’s)
Pneumatic tires: John Dunlop in Ireland
Mass produced: $50 to $100 (1890s)
Social clubs formed
Major Taylor
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1896 - Age 18 became the first black to
race professionally.( 1/2 mile race-NY).
League of American Wheelmen- 1894,
bylaws changed (whites only)
By 1897 - Taylor earned as much as
$850 a day.
Between 1901-1907-toured Europe and
Australia to race
1899 - Won World Cycling
Championship in Montreal.
Taylor in The US
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Unable to check into hotels
Often the target of racially motivated
threats
Raced up to age 38
Book: The Fastest Bicycle Rider In the
World
1930- Moved to Chicago YMCA an sold
copies of his book door to door
Died at age 53 : 1982 Velodrome in his
honor
Major Taylor Velodrome: Built
in 1982
Jessie Owens
American Hero!
Jesse Owens
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May 15, 1935: Span of 45 minutes “Buckeye
Bullet” won four races( three world records,
tying another)
3:15- won 100 yard dash (9.4 sec.)
3:25- won broad jump (26’ 81/4’’)
3:45- won 220 yard dash (20.3 sec.)
4:00- Won 200 yard low hurdles(22.6 sec.)
1936- won four medals: Germany
Jesse Owens
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Was Jesse in some way physiologically
different from other athletes?
“ industry, training incentive and
outstanding courage rather than
physical characteristics are responsible
for the Negro sprinter’s
accomplishments” (Newsweek, 1936)
African Americans : 100 Meter
Worlds Records
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Howard Porter Drew
Eddie Tolan
Ralph Metcalfe
Eulace Peacock
Ralph Metcalfe
Ralph Metcalfe
Jesse Owens
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10.4
10.4
10.3
10.2
10.3
10.3
10.2
June 8,1912
Aug. 8, 1929
Aug. 8, 1933
Aug. 6, 1933
Sept. 15,1934
Sept.23, 1934
June 20, 1936
African Americas: 200 Metes
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Eddie Tolan
Ralph Metcalfe
Jesse Owens
Jesse Ownes
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21.1
21.1
21.1
20.7
Aug, 9, 1929
July 28, 1933
Aug. 4, 1936
Aug. 5, 1936
Eddie Tolan: 1932 Olympic Games (200)
Eddie won two gold medals at the 1932
games
African Americans: Long Jump
(meters)
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Edward Gourdin
William DeHart
Hubbard
Jesse Owens
Ralph Boston
Ralph Boston
Bob Beaman
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7.69 July 23. 1921
7.89 June 13, 1925
8.13
8.25
8.28
8.9
May 25, 1935
Aug. 12, 1960
July 16, 1961
Oct. 18, 1968
Bob Beamon
Ralph Boston
African Americans : Decathlon
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Rafer Johnson
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Rafer Johnson
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Rafer Johnson
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7,758 June 10-11,
1955
7,896 July 27-28,
1958
8,063 July 8-9,
1960
Wilma Rudolph
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Overcame double pneumonia, polio,
scarlet fever
Star Basketball player in college
Attended Tennessee State
First Black female to win Gold (track1960 Games) ( 100 and 200)
Formed Wilma Rudolph Foundation
African American Coaches
(T&F): Hall of Fame
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Edward Hurt
1975 Morgan State
Ed Temple
1989 Tennessee St.
Dr. LeRoy Walker 1983 NC Central U.
Football Greats:
Paul Robeson
 Entered Rutgers in 1915
(Substitute player)
 Sophomore year - 6” tall and
210 pounds promoted to first string tackle
and guard position.
1916 game with Washington
and Lee, he did not play
because of racism.
 1918 - 6’3” tall and 225 pounds
 Graduated Phi Beta Kappa played professional football to
pay his tuition at Columbia
University Law School.
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He became an acclaimed
opera performer and civil
rights advocate.
 Controversy between Paul
and Jackie Robinson
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House committee on UnAmerican Activities called Paul
to testify. Robeson was labeled
Communist Party sympathizer.
 Robeson said Black Americans
should not fight in a war
against USSR.
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1923 Law School: Columbia