The month of February marks Black History Month. In 1926, Harvard scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson organized the first Black History Week. The second week of February was chosen to include the birthdays of both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two fundamental African American supporters. Over time, Black History Week evolved into Black History Month. Throughout each February, Americans honor African Americans from the past and the present, in additon to those who will shape the future.
This year, during Sixers February home games, several of the most influential African American basketball pioneers and other leaders were honored.
February 1
Earl Lloyd- First African-American NBA Player
On October 31 of the 1950 season, Earl Lloyd became the first African American player to play in the National Basketball Association. Nicknamed "The Big Cat," Earl was one of three African-Americans to enter the NBA at the same time. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward averaged 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for his career. In1955 Lloyd experienced his best season, averaging 10.2 points and 7.7 rebounds for the Syracuse Nationals, which beat the Fort Wayne Pistons in seven games to win the NBA Title. In 2003, Lloyd was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor.
Willie Green on Earl Lloyd: Click Here to Watch Video
Paul Robeson- African American Film Pioneer
During his college years, Paul Robeson was the third African American student accepted at Rutgers and the only black student during his time on campus. After graduating, Robeson was the first African American to demand and receive the right to final approval of films and portrayed strong black male American roles 15 years before Sidney Portier (albeit mostly in British films). In 1998, he was awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kevin Ollie on Paul Robeson: Click Here to Watch Video
February 5
Thurgood Marshall- First African American Supreme Court Justice
Prior to becoming the first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer. He is best remembered for his high success rate when arguing before the Supreme Court and for the victory in Brown v. Board of Education.
Thaddeus Young on Thurgood Marshall: Click Here to Watch Video
Violet Palmer- First Female Official in Top Tier Professional Sports League
Violet Palmer attended college at Cal Poly Ponoma, where she played point guard on the 1985 and 1986 NCAA Division II women's championship teams. On October 31, 1997, Palmer became the first top-level female referee in any major U.S. professional sport when she officiated the NBA season opener between the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks.
Kevin Ollie on Violet Palmer: Click Here to Watch Video
February 7
Bill Russell- First African American NBA Coach
Before the 1966-67 NBA season, legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired and named Russell the team's player-coach. After retiring as a player, Russell had stints as head coach of the Seattle Supersonics (1973-1977) and Sacramento Kings (1987-1988). While with the Sonics, he led the struggling franchise into the playoffs for the first time in team history.
Jason Smith on Bill Russell: Click Here to Watch Video
February 9
George Washington Carver- African American Innovator
George Washington Carver was one of the most innovative thinkers to ever live. During his lifetime, Carver discovered over 300 uses for peanuts and also found ways to utilize other common household products. Some of the items Carver found new uses for include soybeans, pecans, sweet potatoes, adhesies, axle grease, bleach, buttermilk, chili sauce, fuel briquettes, ink, instant coffee and many more.
Willie Green on George Washington Carver: Click Here to Watch Video
February 11
Wayne Embry- First African American NBA General Manager
After retiring as a player, Embry became the first African American NBA General Manager, managing the Milwaukee Bucks (1971-1979), Cleveland Cavaliers (1986-1999), and Toronto Raptors (2007). He was selected as the NBA Executive of the Year in 1992 and 1998. In 1999 he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, not as a player, but as a contributor.
Lou Williams on Wayne Embry: Click Here to Watch Video
February 13
Robert Johnson-First African American Owner of an NBA Franchise
Robert L. Johnson made history as the first African American to become the majority owner of a professional sports organization on January 10, 2003 when he became owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Sports Illustrated magazine honored him as the most influential minority in sports in 2003. Before owning an NBA franchise, Johnson founded Black Entertainment Television in 1980 as a cable television network geared to serve the information and entertainment needs of African-Americans.
Andre Iguodala on Robert Johnson: Click Here to Watch Video
African American Notable Firsts (courtesy of the National Liberty Museum)
1902 First white basketball League is integrated when an African American plays in the New England Basketball League. ( Harry “Bucky” Lew)
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Bill Russell
Joe Murphy/Getty |
1909 National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Formed
1910 First black barnstorming team, the Montcello Rifles, founded by Cumberland Posey
1930-31 First African American named All-American player (George Gregory, Columbia University
1943-44 First African American plays in the Big Ten Conference (Frank Whittaker, university of Chicago
1948 First African American named to United States Olympics basketball team (Don Barksdale)President Harry Truman signs executive order to integrate the military
1950 First African American plays in an NBA game (Earl Lloyd)
1952-53 First black college competes in the NAIA tournament (Tennessee State)
1954 United States Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka rules that racial segregation is unconstitutional overturning Plessy v. Ferguson
1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama and sparks the historical Montgomery Bus Boycott.
1961 First African American student enrolled at the University of Mississippi (James Meredith)
<1963 First time that a majority of African American participate in an NCAA championship game. (Loyola University, Chicago starts four; University of Cincinnati starts three.)
1964 Civil Rights Bill passed
1965 Voting Right Act signed
1966 First time in NCAA Finals history that an all black starting five team defeats an all-white starting five team (Texas Western defeats Kentucky)First African American NBA coach named (Bill Russell, Boston Celtics). He serves as a player-coach for three seasons, winning two NBA championship
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John Thompson
Ron Turenne/Getty |
1967 Thurgood Marshall becomes the First African American United States Court Justice
1968 First African American referee in the NBA (Ken Hudson)
1971-72 First African American bench coach named (Earl Lloyd, Detroit Pistons)
1972 First African American NBA General Manager named (Wayne Embry). He is the first black General Manager in professional sports.
1972 First African American owner/coach elected to Basketball Hall of Fame as a significant contributor to the sport (Bob Douglass, New York Renaissance)
1972 Title IX legislation prohibits sexual discrimination and mandates funding equity for women in sports in all federal funded educational facilities.
1972 First African American head coach to win a NCAA Division I championship (John Thompson, Georgetown University)
1997 First Season of the newly established WNBA, the sister league to the NBA
2002 First African American owner of an NBA franchise team (Robert Johnson, Charlotte Bobcats)
