Celebrating Black History Month with Influential African Americans in Parks & Recreation
Just as there are many influential African-Americans who have shaped the landscape of our culture, there are many who made their mark in our country within the parks and recreation industry. There are countless influential athletes and others we could feature, but as we celebrate February as Black History Month, we'd like to recognize just some of these trailblazers and their contributions to sports, parklands, and overall building healthy communities not just this month, but all year long!
Joseph V. Grimstead Sr.
Helped create Princess Anne County's only all-black, all-volunteer fire department in 1948. He was a local civil rights leader who helped desegregate the Oceanfront and donated his land to the City of Virginia Beach to build a community center in the Seatack neighborhood, now known as the Joseph V. Grimstead Seatack Community Recreation Center.
Helped create Princess Anne County's only all-black, all-volunteer fire department in 1948. He was a local civil rights leader who helped desegregate the Oceanfront and donated his land to the City of Virginia Beach to build a community center in the Seatack neighborhood, now known as the Joseph V. Grimstead Seatack Community Recreation Center.
Gabby Douglas
Hampton Roads local is the 2012 Olympic all-around champion and the 2015 World all-around silver medalist in gymnastics.
Buffalo Soldiers
Western frontier’s first African-American servicemen in Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks during the summers of 1899, 1903, and 1904—they constructed the first trail up 14,500-foot Mt. Whitney, built five miles of road and the first wagon route into the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park, and built an arboretum with trails and benches, which is now considered the first museum in the National Park System.
Colonel Charles Young
1903 appointed acting superintendent of Sequoia and General Grant national parks making him the first black superintendent of a national park.
Genai Kerr
First African American to play water polo for Team USA.
Shelton Johnson
Key influencer for the National Parks Service and advocate for African Americans to experience all that the outdoors have to offer by also sharing the history of the Buffalo Soldiers.
Simone Biles
She is the most decorated American gymnast and the world's third most decorated gymnast.
Cullen Jones
First African American to hold a world record in swimming. He holds the world record in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay (long course). Created the Cullen Jones Diversity Invitational. The goal of the invitational is to create a truly multi-ethnic swim meet that would also combine education on water safety and the culture of competitive swimming. Jones is also an ambassador for the USA Swimming Foundation’s Make a Splash initiative.
Misty Copeland
First African American female principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre.
Ashleigh Johnson
First African American female water polo player for Team USA.
Retta
Marietta Sangai Sirleaf, better known as Retta, is an American stand-up comedian and actress. She is best known for her role as Donna Meagle on NBC's Parks and Recreation.
RAPS
Created in 2007 by Leslie Paul after learning about the high drowning rates among the minority population. RAPS teaching kids how to have a positive experience in the water and the foundations of water safety and swimming.
Michelle Obama
Created Let’s Move — a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.
Betty Reid Soskin
At age 98, she is the oldest National Park Ranger serving the United States.
Nick Gabaldon
Considered the first and most influential African American surfer.
Beatrice Domond
One of the women featured in “DAZED,” as part of the movement to bring skate culture to women of color.
Carolyn F. McKnight
First African American Female President of the American Academy for Parks and Recreation.
Philo Brathwaite
First African American Professional Disc Golfer- “I didn’t start playing disc golf on a professional level to be the only black guy doing it…it just so happened that I was the only black guy doing it.”
Camp Sizanani
Using summer camp to keep the Children of Africa free of HIV/AIDS and empowered to reach their fullest potential through recreation.
Charles Jordan
Director of the Austin, Texas Parks and Recreation Department in 1992. During his 14 years, 44 new parks and outdoor facilities were constructed as he continued to share his love and belief of the need for green spaces in urban communities.
Mike Hall
The first African American Super Heavyweight powerlifter to win a World Powerlifting Championship and a leader in the drug-free movement in powerlifting.
Cara Heads Slaughter
In 2000 becoming the first African-American female athlete to represent the US in the Olympic Games. first African-American woman (and only 2nd Woman) to make the ranking of International Coach.
GirlTrek
GirlTrek, the largest public health nonprofit for African-American women and girls in the United States. They encourage women to use walking as a practical first step to inspire healthy living, families, and communities.
Ernestine Shephard
The oldest competitive female bodybuilder in the world according to the 2010 Guinness Book of World Records.
The captions don't match the photos.
ReplyDeleteWow, this was very uplifting and inspiring! Thank you for writing this.
ReplyDelete