September 12
Jesse Owens Born
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was born on September 12, 1913, in Oakville, Alabama. He went on to win four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, shattering Adolf Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy and becoming one of the greatest athletes in history.
Mae Jemison Goes to Space
On September 12, 1992, Mae Jemison flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, becoming the first African American woman in space. A physician and engineer, she spent nearly eight days in orbit conducting experiments.
Naomi Osaka Wins U.S. Open with Protest Masks
During the September 2020 U.S. Open, Naomi Osaka wore seven different face masks, each bearing the name of a Black person killed by police or racial violence, including Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and Trayvon Martin. She won the tournament, using her platform to amplify the fight for racial justice.