The month of January saw 3 iconic Black trail blazers transition from this earth. In the spirit of Black History Month, I want to acknowledge each of them.
John Chaney was the legendary coach of Cheyney State and Temple University. Coach Chaney gave opportunities to inner city youthsto play Division One Basketball. He was one of the few coaches that would recruit prop 48 players that were declared ineligible as freshmen. This rule was later changed because it was found to be discriminatory against black students because of the use of standardize testing that had cultural bias against minorities. Coach Chaney was a father figure to many of his players. He was instrumental in making the Atlantic Ten one of the top conferences in the country.
Hank Aaron was the home run king of Major League Baseball. He was able to surpass Babe Ruth record that has stood for decades. As he approved 714 home runs, he was besieged with hate mail and death threats. He kept the mail but never allow it to deter his pursuit of the record. He was playing in the deep South where discrimination was prevalent and a norm. Aaron was named to the MLB Hall of Fame and is still considered one of the best baseball players of all time.
Cicely Tyson was an actress and fashion model. She was known for her portrayal of strong black characters. Tyson refused to play stereotypical roles that demeaned people of color. Her stance cost her money and acting opportunities. Tyson felt it was more important to be a credit to her race and give an example of setting a standard that others could follow. She was nominated for an Oscar, won Emmys and NAACP Image Awards thru out her career that spanned 7 decades.
If you think you are going threw it, think about the real struggles that these trailblazers went thru. Each of them raise their voices so you could be heard.
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