The ancient Greeks excluded women from the Olympics. When the modern games were reinstated in 1896, the ban was continued. But in the next Olympiad in 1900, women were included. It was not until 1932 that the first African-American women were selected to participate in the Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Since that eventful year, more and more black women have participated in the Olympics. Now they compete in all areas of track and field, tennis, basketball, rowing, volleyball, and figure skating.

This book highlights some of the accomplishments of these Olympic medalists and attests to their magnificent representation of our country abroad. With a brief biographical outline and a listing of each award won, Martha Ward Plowden brings to life some of the world's greatest athletes. Included is a timeline of participants in each Olympics, a listing of Olympic sites through the years, a glossary, and suggested reading. An excellent text for history classes, Olympic Black Women is a tribute to the accomplishment of Olympic women throughout the years.

Martha Ward Plowden is a middle-school media specialist in Atlanta, Georgia. Her findings in the area of women in black history led to the writing of Famous Firsts of Black Women. She is formerly coeditor of Library Trends and holds degrees in library media services.

Ronald Jones is a free-lance artist whose works include the 1992 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Congo Square poster. He is artistic director of The Neighborhood Gallery in New Orleans, which promotes the works of local black artists.

OLYMPIC BLACK WOMEN
Martha Ward Plowden
Illustrated by Ronald Jones
160 pp. 7 x 9
Illustrations-Glossary-Bibliography
ISBN: 1-56554-080-8
EAN: 978-1-56554-080-4