In 1959, police were called to a segregated library when a Black 9-year-old boy trying to check out books refused to leave, after being told the library was not for Black people.
The boy, Ronald McNair, went on to became an astronaut. The library is also now named after him.
Ronald McNair was 9 when a South Carolina librarian told him he could not check out books from a segregated library in 1959. Refusing to leave, a determined McNair sat on the counter while the librarian called the police, as well McNair's mother. The police arrived, told the librarian to let the young boy have his books, and McNair walked out alongside his mother and brother.
McNair went on to earn his Ph.D. in physics at MIT and became one of the first African Americans selected as astronauts by NASA, alongside Guion S. Bluford, Jr. and Frederick Gregory.
McNair's first spaceflight was the STS-41B mission, aboard the "Challenger" shuttle. He successfully maneuvered the robotic arm, which allowed astronaut Bruce McCandless to perform the first space walk without being tethered to the spacecraft.
On this day in 1986, the second space flight for McNair would be his last. He, along with six other NASA astronauts, were aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger when it exploded 73 seconds after takeoff in 1986. Everyone on board the shuttle was killed.
Today, the library in South Carolina where McNair was refused books is named after the heroic boy determined to make a difference.
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A billionaire mega-donor just gave Greg Abbott $6 MILLION to keep pushing private school voucher scams.
This is the largest bribe in the history of Texas politics.
Greg Abbott doesn’t work for the people of Texas — he works for his billionaire bosses.
Two reasons why you should run to https://t.co/s0XdZ6tOQT to see if the #BidenHarris SAVE plan saves you money on your monthly payments (even if you checked before): 1- The income cap is going down to 5% in July and 2- The government subsidizes (pays) the interest your monthly payment doesn't cover so your balance won't ever increase due to unpaid interest.
I'm telling yall this because just 7 of the 30 million people have enrolled, and I know some folks will let a handful of negative comments talk them out of even taking a look. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself!
If you were at Dulles International Airport or Reagan Washington National Airport early this month, you may have been exposed to someone with measles, Virginia officials warn https://t.co/VQXtQqfC89
Meet Tim Dunn & Farris Wilks—two billionaires from West Texas.
They bought Paxton’s acquittal for $3 million. Now they’re pushing a private school voucher scam.
Their ultimate goal is even more ambitious: transforming Texas into an authoritarian, Christian Nationalist state. 🧵
6 former OSU wrestlers came forward saying Jim Jordan knew about sexual abuse against players by a team doctor and did nothing. One wrestler says Jordan dismissed his complaint when he told him what was happening.
The doctor abused at least 177 students.
https://t.co/JYeZUgal3b
This is a long shot but there's a community youth center opening in Jackson, Mississippi. They have a few basketball courts, but they are hoping an NBA or WNBA team could donate an additional court. Kids in Jackson have so little as it is, and this is so needed. Anyone can help?
A Mississippi sheriff used the power of a grand jury at least 8 times over a year to spy on his married girlfriend and the school employee with whom she was also “unfaithful”
The attorney general, two judges and a future congressman all kept his secret
https://t.co/VSjLFbytYV
White supremacy in media & society is a white woman with no medical training setting up a medical clinic in Uganda, killing hundreds of children, getting filthy rich, facing zero consequences—then getting a feature HBO documentary on how tough she had it😐
https://t.co/p6QdjOfci3
Maybe you don’t know who Florida state Rep Angie Nixon is, but you will now. 🔥🔥🔥
If you care about what life is like in Florida under Gov Ron DeSantis, I urge you to listen to ALL of this. You will feel it in your bones.
Thank you, @AngieNixon#Jacksonville