BHMonth Spotlight: Did you know?

As you already know, every week I feature a hidden gem from Black History Month to help shine light on some of the great African-American innovators and trailblazers. But this week I wanted to switch up the flow and share some anecdotes from three eminent sports figures that you may not know.

Olympic sprinter Tommie Smith recalled an incident from his boyhood in which a white child snatched an ice cream cone out of his hand and snarled, "Ni**ers don't eat ice cream." 

Michael Jordan was suspended from school for hitting a white girl who called him a "ni**er" during a fight over a seat on a school bus in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Tiger Woods was tied up in kindergarten by older schoolmates who called him "ni**er."

These are just a few instances I wanted to share from a novel I read in college, The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word by Randall Kennedy. This book is better than any forum/panel I've attended or lecture I've had in class regarding the history of the racial epithet and its impact on today's society. So for those out there looking for a book recommendation, you're welcome. Reading is fundamental kids.

Enjoy the rest of your week.