Before There Was . . .

Kozminski Technology Day

March 11, 2004

Before Venus and Serena Williams . . .

There Was Althea Gibson

First African-American woman to play on the professional tennis tour

Before Sammy Sosa or Barry Bonds . . .

There Was Not Just Jackie Robinson . . .

First African-American to play in the Major Leagues

But Larry Doby . . .

First African-American to play in the American League

Plus Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson

Negro League Baseball Stars

Before Halle Berry . . .

There Was Ethel Waters

First African-American woman to receive a leading role on Broadway

Before Clarence Thomas . . .

There Was Thurgood Marshall

First African-American Supreme Court Justice

Before Denzel Washington or Danny Glover . . .

There Was Bert Williams

First African-American to star in a movie

And Sidney Poitier

First African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor

Before Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant . . .

There Was Earl Lloyd

First African-American to play in the NBA

Before Carl Lewis or Florence Griffith Joyner . . .

There was not just Jesse Owens . . .

Winner of four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics

But Alice Coachman

First African-American woman to win a gold medal

And John Baxter Taylor Jr.

First African-American to win a gold medal

Before Tiger Woods . . .

There Was Lee Elder

First African-American to qualify for the Masters

Before Oprah and other African-American women in business . . .

There was Madame C.J. Walker

Inventor of many hair care products and the first African-American woman to become a millionaire

What Barriers Will You Break?

What Accomplishments Will You Achieve?

Make Your Own History . . .