Running Back Ernie Davis was the first African-American player to win the Heisman Trophy, doing so in the year 1961. In one of sports greatest tragedies, Davis passed away two years later from leukemia. He was 23.
Toni Morrison, was the first African American woman to win a nobel prize in literature in 1993
Anthony Ervin is the first swimmer of African American descent to win a gold medal. Ervin is of African American and Native American descent on his father's side, and Jewish American on his mother's side.
Bob pettit
Arthur Ashe is an African American and the first and only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon. He is also the only black man to win the singles title at the US Open and the Australian Open.
Sidney Poitier was the first African-American to win a Best Actor award for his performance in "Lilies of the Field" (1963).
Charlie Ward
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) was the first African-American, first African-American Poet, and first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize. She was awarded the 1950 Pulitzer for Poetry for her acclaimed collection, Annie Allen.
The first African American to win a Golden Globe Award was Sidney Poitier. He won it in 1964 for his performance in 'Lilies of the Field.'
Isaac Hayes was the first African American to win the Oscar for Best Song. He won for writing the "Theme from Shaft" in 1971.
Althea Gibson
The first African American to win a Golden Globe Award was Sidney Poitier. He won it in 1964 for his performance in 'Lilies of the Field.'
Toni Morrison, was the first African American woman to win a nobel prize in literature in 1993
Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to win Best Supporting Actress. She won for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939).
Virginia Hamilton was the first African American author to win the Newbery Medal. She won in 1975 for her book "M.C. Higgins, the Great."
Anthony Ervin is the first swimmer of African American descent to win a gold medal. Ervin is of African American and Native American descent on his father's side, and Jewish American on his mother's side.
Isaac Murphy
Hattie McDaniel