African American Female's Firsts

Well, I am sure that the majority of you have heard by now, that Gabrielle 'Gabby' Douglas, 16 years old, took the Gold, at the Olympics, in London, England. What was extra special about it, was that she, and her teammates took the Women Gymnastic Team Gold Medal; and, then Gabby took the All Around Women Gymnastic Gold Medal ... making her the FIRST African American Female to take 'both' the Women Gymnastic Team Gold Medal, and Women Gymnastics All-Around Gold Medal, in Olympic history. She was, also, the FIRST African American Female to take the Gold Medal, in the All Around Women Gymnastics, in Olympic history. And, both in the same year; and in her first time of, even, being in the Olympics. She, now, gets to join the ranks of being the FIRST African American Females to ...

Other African American Firsts (and, they are not listed in any particular order) are Oprah Winfrey, the First African American Female Billionaire AND the First African American Television Host; Condoleeza Rice, the First African Female Secretary of State; Shirley Chisholm, the First African American Female U.S. Representative; Ruth Simmons, the First African American Female Ivy League President of Brown University; Toni Morrison, the First African American Female Poetry Pulitzer Prize Winner; Halle Berry, the First African American Female Oscar Best Actress, and I am sure that readers can add a host of others, not listed. Most important is that we can, now, add the name of a 16 year old, who goes by the name of Gabby Douglas. What a wonderful experience, and recognition, for a young lady. She gets to, as they say, rub elbows with the likes of the African American Female Women, that I mentioned, above, that were 'firsts' before her.

Anyway, she represents one of the young people of today, that just makes a person proud; especially, a parent. Just look at the pride in her mom's, and her sister's, faces. Gabby, before she was, even, finished; had placed a sense of pride on a lot of faces, around the World. Yes, it is just one of those times that you are proud to be an American.

In the United States, the media, and most of society, always want to recognize, or call attention to, the worst representation of what our young people do, or are about; however, we need to give props to our young people, like Gabby Douglas, Michael Phelps, and Missy Franklin, that offer good things, to, and for, our Country.

Thank you, Gabby; and thank you to all of our Olympic participants. I cannot wait to see future Olympics, and see our future Olympians, that are out there. Just to see how far that they are going to push themselves, to beat this years records, that were, and are being, set, and are already mind boggling. Parents, just think, you may be looking at, and raising an Olympian, right now.The Olympics are just getting better and better, each time that they come around; and, the participants are always more determined, than ever, that they are going to break a World record.