*First things first: Sorry for the accidental triple upload today. Friday's upload went out late because I was horribly tired Thursday night then horribly busy all day Friday, yesterday was....rough, life stuff, and we're back on schedule. My life's still trash and I'm struggling to get through this series because of it. I'm sorry it's been so erratic. I'm trying though.*
Hi! So we're doing something a little different for our 3rd Sports Spotlight today. I always do a different sport each week, but this time I'm not only revisiting a sport, I'm also featuring the father of a previous entrant. Remember last week when we learned about Renee Powell, the "First Lady of Golf"? This week we're learning about her mentor and teacher, her father! There are tons of successful Black pioneers whose children also went on to achieve greatness, some in the same field and others in different areas, but I don't think I've featured any of them before so I'm excited. lol Let's get into it!
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Name: William Powell, 1916-2009
Profession: Businessman, golfer, soldier
Why is the Spotlight on him today? For his groundbreaking contributions to and longtime foothold in the golfing industry
Notables:
--Was the first African-American to build, own and operate a golf course, which was the first integrated course in the country
--Is the father of women's golf pioneer and last week's entrant Renee Powell
--Got into golf as a child by caddying for White golfers, then continued golfing abroad while serving in World War II, where he didn't receive the segregation he dealt with at home
--After being rejected for bank loans to buy land for his own course, borrowed the money from two Black physicians and a brother to buy the land himself, which he and his wife created, designed and labored for on their own
--Originally opened Clearview Golf Course with nine holes, which later expanded to 18 holes
--Faced hate crimes from racism at the beginning, with having the park vandalized and robbed several times, but persevered
--Was honored along with his family by receiving the National Golf Foundation's Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year Award
--Was a Life Member of PGA America
--Is the namesake of the William Powell Celebrity Tournament, which honors his legacy with a tournament featuring celebrities, golf professionals and legends of the sport
--Was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the PGA of America
--Was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame
--Was awarded honorary Doctorate's from Wilberforce University, the HBCU he attended college at, and Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio
--Was posthumously included with the rest of his family in receiving the Old Tom Morris Award on behalf of the Golf Course Superintendents of America at the 2019 Golf Industry Show
--Was honored by the Department of the Interior by having Clearview added to the National Register of Historic Places
Further reading and resources:
Quote of the Day:
"Stand firm. Never give up. Never give in. Believe in yourself, even when others don’t."
-Bill Powell
Today's organization: Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI)
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What does this organization provide? Resources and education for Black immigrant families and communities so that they can advocate for justice and immigration reform. The organization provides training and help to partnered organizations in providing mobilization to local immigrant communities. One of the goals of BAJI is to start healthy dialogue between Black immigrants and African-Americans, helping the latter understand the unique challenges facing Black immigrant families and bridging the gap to fully come together as a community.
See you tomorrow!
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