December Is Black Womens Basketball History Month
This month, celebrate the history of African American women who were pioneers in basketball!
The all-black New York Girls championship basketball team, 1910.
We all know many of today’s female basketball stars from the W.N.B.A., the N.C.A.A., and the Olympics.
But where did it all begin?
A great place to start is by recognizing the very first all-black female basketball team — the New York Girls (1910-1914), champions of New York and New Jersey in 1910!
There were dozens of other early African American women’s teams, including the Spartan Girls (1910-1914), the Philadelphia Tribune Girls (1930-1945), the Germantown Hornets (1929-1935), the Chicago Romas (1921-1931), and, perhaps my favorite, the Chocolate Coeds (1930-1950).
Of course there are many, many more teams, stars, players, pioneers, and contributors who deserve recognition.
Who is your favorite? Most inspirational? Least recognized? Most influential?
Share your thoughts!
In December, and every month during the year, help support and encourage positive feelings, attitudes, respect, honor, and admiration towards female basketball players (and all women) past and present!
[…] it’s Women’s History Month, I wanted to share these wonderful photographs, even though Black Women’s Basketball History Month is in […]
I and my sisters in the 70’s are honored to have continued this legacy as Title IX, AIAW, and WBL pioneers. We were the first women’s pro league in the U.S. and have impacted the coaching ranks and other professions since. We have paid it forward and pay homage to our “sheroes” of the past!
do you know who was the first black female to play college basketball?
That’s a really good question. We do not know the answer, and, surprisingly, this has never come up before, but now we want to find out!
[…] declares the month of December as Black Women’s Basketball History Month, in honor of the New York Girls, the first independent all-black female basketball team from 1910 … that’s kinda cool […]