Wisconsin Herd Celebrates Black History Month
During the game on February 24, the Herd will play in one-of-a-kind Black History Month jerseys presented by TDS Telecom with portraits of influential Black leaders featured on the jersey shell and a continous drawing on their respective shorts. Artist Patrick “Patcasso” Hunter crafted the portraits with the theme of “Inspire on Purpose”. The jerseys also feature a traditional African Kente Cloth design turned into a circuit board throughout the piping, numbers and words to showcase the intersection of Art within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). Each player will play in a jersey that represents a different legend. Bid on these speciality jerseys here: https://herdup.givesmart.com Read more about these legends’ accomplishments below:
George Washington Carver was a scientist who developed hundreds of products using peanuts, sweet potatoes and soybeans. Carver, originally born into slavery, earned a master’s degree in agricultural science before going on to teach and conduct research at Tuskegee University. After his passing, he became the first African American to have a national monument created in his honor.
Michelle Obama is an attorney and author who served as the first African American First Lady of the United States from 2009-2017, Michelle Obama works as an advocate with four main focuses: healthy families, service members and their families, higher education, and international adolescent girls’ education.
Dr. Bernard Harris was the first African American to walk in space in 1995 when he served on the first flight of the joint Russian American Space Program. Dr. Harris is currently CEO and Managing Partner of Vesalius Ventures, Inc. and the founder of the Harris Foundation.
Eric Monte was born Kenneth Paul Williams on December 25, 1943, in Chicago, IL. Raised in one of the most notorious and dangerous projects in the world, Cabrini Greens, Eric, was a dreamer, an intellect, and a storyteller. A writer was created when, once as a young boy, Kenneth (now Eric) was playing as the Long Ranger, and a man walked by him and asked who was he supposed to be. Lil Ken replied, the LOOOOONG Ranger! The man then told him that he could not be the Long Ranger because the Long Ranger was not black! Lil Ken was crushed! He vowed there and then that he was going to become a writer and create black heroes! With $10.00 in his pocket, a knapsack, a story, and a dream, Eric hitched-hiked from Chicago to California. With his dreams in tow, and after sleeping on park benches for over two years; Eric Monte became one of the first African-American screenwriters to write and create several black TV sitcom series. Monte is known for his works depicting 1970s African-American culture, such as television shows Good Times, The Jeffersons, What's Happening & What's Happening Now; both spinoffs of his movie Cooley High, which was based on his high school experiences. This film and these sitcoms went on to become household names and cultural icons in the entertainment industry and in Black History today. He is now considered the Godfather of sitcoms!
Wayne Embry became the first African-American general manager and team president in NBA history. After an eleven-year NBA playing career, Embry became the assistant manager for the Bucks and later was promoted to General Manager in 1972. He was awarded the NBA Executive of the Year in 1992 and 1998 during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mr. Embry currently serves as a senior basketball advisor for the Toronto Raptors.
Nedra Glover Tawwab is the author of the New York Times bestsellers “Drama Free and Set Boundaries”, “Find Peace”. A licensed therapist and sought-after relationship expert, she has practiced relationship therapy for more than fifteen years. Tawwab has appeared as an expert on Red Table Talk, The Breakfast Club, Good Morning America, and CBS Morning Show. Her work has been highlighted in The New York Times, The Guardian, and Vice. Tawwab runs a popular Instagram account where she shares practices, tools, and reflections for mental health and relationships.
Charles H. Smith, Jr. affectionately known as “Choo”, played for the Harlem Globetrotters as an Advance Ambassador and played in all 50 States & 26 countries where he was recognized as one of the greatest dribblers in the world. Smith Jr. founded the nonprofit organization Choo Smith Youth Empowerment, Inc., which focuses on Choo’s “4L” philosophy: “Love it, Learn it, Live it, Lead it.” Choo currently serves as the Chairman of the National Basketball Retired Players Association.
Earl Lloyd was the first African American player to play a game in the NBA paving the way for future players. He helped the Syracuse Nationals to the 1955 NBA Championship. Earl was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. Kevin Lloyd, Earl’s son, is currently gathering petition names to put Earl Lloyd on a US postage Stamp.
Malcolm X was a civil rights activist and a spokesman for the Nation of Islam from 1950-1960 where he advocated for Black empowerment and the religion of Islam. Shortly after leaving the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X was assassinated on February 19, 1965. Malcolm X is widely celebrated for his pursuit of racial justice.
Maya Angelou was a performer, writer and civil rights activist who was best known for her work as an author and poet. She made literary history when her memoir I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing became the first nonfiction bestseller by a Black woman. She also became the first Black woman to have a screenplay produced with the movie Georgia, Georgia. In 2021, the United States Mint announced that Angelou would be the first Black woman to be depicted on a quarter as part of the American Women quarters series.