Black History Month is observed in February and the reason that we have Black History Month is so that we can remember the important contributions and achievements that African American’s have brought throughout this Nations history.
One person that thought should be honored this month is Mae Jemison. She was the first African American to be accepted into the astronaut program. Then, She became the first African American woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.
She was interested in science from the time that she was a child. She had good grades in school, continued to learn and grown and was accepted into Stanford University on a National Achievement Scholarship. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the university in 1977. After graduation, she entered Cornell University Medical College and, during her years there, found time to expand her horizons by studying in Cuba and Kenya and working at a Cambodian refugee camp in Thailand. She received her Medical Degree in 1981 and years later she decided to fulfill a life long dream and apply to the astronaut program.
After spending 190 hours in space and conducting several experiments, Mae Jemison was noted saying…”That society should recognize how much both women and members of other minority groups can contribute if given the opportunity.”
