It is black history month. Not many people pay tribute to the ones who made a difference for us blacks especially the women. Each week I will be paying homage to a black woman in history who empowered us and who is a strong black woman. Check out my 1st week pick.
Dr. Mae C. Jemison
Mae. C Jemison who is a Libra like myself, was the first black female astronaut. In 1992 she added another historic title by becoming the first black woman to go to space. She flew into space with six other astronauts aboard the Endeavour on mission STS47. When she was a little girl in Chicago she spent most of her free time at her school library reading many science books, especially astronomy books. She had a passion, and interest for space itself.
After highschool she received a Bachelors of Science in chemical engineering in 1977.
After she decided to get her M.D at Cornell University Medical College she later in 1985 decided to do a career change and do what she always inspired to do since she was a young girl.
In that year, she applied to NASA's astronaut training program. The process was delayed, but she didnt give up, she reapplyed the following year and was 1 of 15 candidates chosen from a group of about 2,000. 1987 she was finally choosen and it made her the first black female astronaut with the job title of a science mission specialist which she was responsible for conducting any crew related scientific experiments on the space shuttles.
When Jemison finally flew into space on September 12, 1992 she made lots of young black girls proud and gave us hope. She was in space for eight days along with six other astronauts. Her task was to conduct experiments on the weightlessness and motion sickness on the crew and herself. They returned on September 20, 1992. She later left the astronaut corps in 1993, and begin teaching fellowship at Dartmouth. She also established the Jemison Group which her company seeks research, develop and market advanced technologies.
Mae Jemison is one of many black women who have empowered women, inspired and motivated us. It shows if you work hard you can do and be anything you put your mind to. She is my first pick for "Black Women Who Empowered.
