Real Life American Heroes: Mae Jemison

It’s time for another super installment of Real Life American Heroes! Today we’re highlighting someone who was a pioneer for the female black community in Space Exploration! Mae Jemison was the first African American Woman to be an astronaut!

Mae Jemison was born in Decatur, Alabama on October 17, 1956. When she was younger, she had a wonderful interest in Science and Math. Her family was very impressed with Mae’s scholastic achievements and her drive to always learn more about the world around her.

Mae Jemison graduated from high school at 16 years old! That’s a whole year before most people graduate! She was awarded a scholarship to Stanford University in California where she studied Chemical Engineering, a career where people create products using chemistry. Mae’s education continued in great ways. After Stanford, she went to Cornell University in New York. While she was there, Mae studied to be a doctor. She worked in Los Angeles and even overseas in West Africa with the Peace Corps, a volunteer organization that helps people around the world access good health care and so much more.

Following her great achievements, Mae Jemison didn’t stop there! In 1987, Mae applied to become an Astronaut at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA. More than 2,000 people applied to the program, and Mae was one of only 15 who were selected! Mae Jemison was the first African American Woman to enter the program. She alongside her colleagues trained to become an astronaut! She experienced training like International Space Station system training, robotic skills, and aircraft flight training. Her previous schooling and careers made her a fantastic candidate for space exploration.

In 1992 Mae Jemison was selected as the Science Mission Specialist crew member of the shuttle Endeavour. While in space, Mae Jemison conducted various science experiments including one that involved how tadpoles can develop in zero gravity! Mae spent 190 hours, 30 minutes, and 23 seconds in space and orbited the earth 127 times.

After her time at NASA Mae Jemison became a director on the board of the World Sickle Cell Foundation, a community that focuses on the treatment and potential cure of Sickle Cell Anemia, a genetic disorder that causes red blood cells to become misshapen.

Mae Jemison is still teaching, advocating, and leading the charge for social, educational, and equitable change.

Mae Jemison is a fantastic and inspiring hero for all Americans! Her contributions to the world are numerous and have had such an impact on the African American Community as well as the entire world! She is a Real Life American Hero in every sense!

Thanks for joining us for another Real Life American Hero blog for the month of February! Black History Month continues to show us the amazing contributions these Real Life heroes have provided to the world.