Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. Honored with Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., astronaut and former CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI), has been honored with the esteemed Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Harris, the first African American astronaut to walk in space, has dedicated his life to advancing STEM education and inspiring future generations.

Through his work with the Harris Foundation and Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on education, health and wealth, and his role as a founding board member of NMSI, Dr. Harris has championed educational opportunities for students across diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. His efforts have been instrumental in promoting curiosity, scientific exploration and equitable access to education.

"Dr. Harris's unwavering commitment to STEM education has transformed countless lives and opened doors for students from all walks of life," said Jeremy Anderson, CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative. "His dedication and vision have not only inspired future scientists, engineers, and innovators but have also set a high standard for leadership and service. This award is a well-deserved recognition of his lifetime of impactful work."

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the office of the President of the United States, celebrates individuals who exemplify exceptional commitment to building a stronger nation through community service. Dr. Harris received this honor for his relentless efforts in advancing STEM education and investing in communities across the nation.

"I am deeply honored to receive the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award," said Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. "This recognition is not just a personal milestone, but a testament to the collective efforts of all those dedicated to advancing STEM education and empowering our youth. Together, we are fostering a future where every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to pursue a STEM education and achieve their full potential."

Other notable recipients of the award include former astronaut and STEM advocate Leland Melvin, retired NASA Administrator Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr., and astronaut and health advocate Dr. Yvonne Cagle.

About the National Math and Science Initiative

(NMSI) The National Math and Science Initiative is dedicated to improving student outcomes in math and science, particularly in underserved communities. By providing educators with high-quality professional development and support, NMSI ensures that all students have access to the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information, visit http://www.nms.org.

A statue honoring John Lewis replaces former Confederate monument in Georgia

A statue honoring civil rights hero and US Congressman John Lewis was unveiled Saturday outside of Atlanta, replacing a Confederate monument that had stood there for more than a century.

Postal Service Issues Vibrant New Stamp to Honor Kwanzaa

The U.S. Postal Service continues its longstanding tradition of celebrating Kwanzaa, the annual Pan-African holiday that has united countless African American families and communities since its inception in 1966.

The first-day-of-issue event for the Kwanzaa stamp is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #KwanzaaStamp.

Who: Roderick Sallay, USPS director of legislative policy and strategic development

When: Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 12:30 p.m. EDT

Where:Sen. John Heinz History Center

1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

RSVP: Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/kwanzaastamp.

Background:

Kwanzaa, observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, celebrates family, community and culture. Rooted in ancient and modern first-harvest festivals, Kwanzaa incorporates traditions from across the African continent to foster unity and pride.

Centered around the holiday’s seven founding principles — unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective work and responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani), the holiday emphasizes the rich heritage and aspirations of the African American community.

It is a festive time for rejoicing in the prospect of health, prosperity and good luck in the coming year. It is also a time for contemplation and recollection of past hardships, faced by both individuals and communities, and the ways in which history can inform and affect future happiness.

Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Ehua Holmes.

The Kwanzaa stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. This stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

NAACP Announces Chicago as Home of the 117th National Convention

At a press conference in Chicago, Illinois, NAACP leaders welcomed Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to announce a 2-year partnership bringing the NAACP National Convention to Chicago in 2026. The announcement comes as thousands of Black Americans gather in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, where Kamala Harris is poised to become the first Black woman to receive the Presidential nomination from a major political party.

NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, shared the following statement:

"The NAACP is proud to partner with the Illinois State Conference, state and local leaders, and community partners to bring the nation's largest civil rights organization to Chicago. Being home to one of the largest Black populations in America, we're confident that our attendees will feel at home. As we celebrate a pivotal moment in Black history this week, we remain focused on our mission to advance Black culture and support the Black community. Chicago sits at the intersection of Black history, and Black future. We're excited to be here today, embarking on a partnership to bring the largest nationwide cohort of Black advocates to the Windy City."

The NAACP's first national convention in Chicago was in June 1926, a time when the civil rights movement was working to impart much-needed change for the Black community. A century later, the NAACP will return to the city in the Summer of 2026 with the same vision in mind – to galvanize and empower Black America. We are proud to partner with Choose Chicago, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA), owners of McCormick Place.

"100 years after the first NAACP Conference took place in Chicago, I couldn't be more proud to welcome them back in 2026 for what I'm sure will be the best conference yet,"said Governor JB Pritzker. "Chicago's Black community carries a storied history and an important place in the legacy of culture, activism, and advancement, and the NAACP Convention will be an opportunity to show off the best of Chicago and Illinois while also supporting the ongoing fight for racial justice."

"Chicago is proud to welcome the NAACP back to Chicago in 2026 and we cannot wait to showcase the best of our city to thousands of attendees," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "As a city rooted in Black history and committed to carrying forward the values of the NAACP in all that we do, there is no better place than Chicago for this historic event. I want to thank the NAACP for choosing Chicago as its home for the 2026 National Convention and I look forward to working together to deliver an incredible Chicago experience."

Game Changers: Book of Sports Photographs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture

(Black PR Wire) The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) will publish a dynamic new book Sept. 17 tracing the history of sports through photographs from the turn of the 20th century to the present day with Game Changers: Sports Photographs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This publication is the first in the Double Exposure series to include photographs from the Johnson Publishing Company Archive, co-owned by the museum and the Getty Research Institute. The 84-page softcover book showcases 57 black-and-white and 11 color images.

“The Black athlete has long served as a symbol of excellence, a figure of change, and an image of the otherwise impossible,” wrote Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director of NMAAHC, in the foreword to the book. “We soar when they do, we root for them even as we doubt; we win even when they lose, as long as the attempt proves as noble as the victory. More than 20 of the photographs in this book, spanning almost 40 years, come from the Johnson Publishing Company Archive, remarkable for its ability to get inside athletes’ homes and experiences, documenting ordinary moments in often extraordinary lives.”

Organized around key moments in the history of African American sports, Game Changers explores the sometimes-complex world of athletes, their sports and their impact on American culture on and off the field. While football, basketball, baseball and boxing are prominently featured, the book also includes images of male and female athletes, amateur and professional, competing in gymnastics, track and field, skiing, golf, tennis and other sports.

Images of iconic moments in sports history include Jack Johnson vs. Jim Jeffries during the 1910 “Fight of the Century,” Jackie Robinson stealing home in 1952 and Colin Kaepernick taking a knee in 2016. Also presented are the more personal moments—Larry Doby teaching his son how to hold a bat, Wilt Chamberlain in class at the University of Kansas, Wilma Rudolph standing outside her charitable foundation office, Muhammad Ali in conversation with Fannie Lou Hamer and a young Venus Williams smiling after a practice session.

Among the 40 featured photographers are Ernest C. Withers, Roderick J. Lyons, Walter Iooss Jr., Maurice Sorrell, Ozier Muhammad and Moneta Sleet Jr.

Game Changers features three essays followed by four sections of photographs:

Survival and Community Building: 1900-1945

This section explores how African Americans created a vibrant yet diverse sporting culture in the face of segregation and other constraints. It also covers how the Great Migration shaped youth athletics in Chicago and the role of historically Black colleges and universities, such as Samuel Huston College and Tuskegee Institute, in promoting sports at the collegiate level.

Struggle and Breakthrough: 1945–1968

The period between the end of World War II and the Civil Rights Movement focuses on the various athletes, starting with Robinson in 1945 who integrated sports, and how some let their accomplishments speak for themselves, while others used their platforms to speak out in support of the movement. Featured athletes include Willie Mays, Althea Gibson and Wilt Chamberlain.

Disruption and Acceptance: 1968-1980

The post-Civil Rights Movement era saw an increase in athletes as activists on the national and international stage, pushing for equal pay, representation and opportunities in all levels of sports. This section features Kareem Abdul-Jabbar executing a slam dunk, Debra Kay Thomas playing in the Women’s Professional Basketball League and the first African American to play in the Master’s Tournament, Lee Elder.

Innovation and Dominance: 1980-Today

The final section looks at the progress African Americans have made since 1980, focusing on the emergence of prominent women athletes, including Gail Devers and Briana Scurry, and the participation of Black athletes, such as Kaepernick, in the social justice protests of the 2000s.

The editors of Game Changers are Michèle Gates Moresi and Laura Coyle, both at NMAAHC. Contributors to the book include Damion L. Thomas, NMAAHC curator of sports, and Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director at NMAAHC; David K. Wiggins, professor emeritus of sport studies at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia; and Domonique Foxworth, commentator, retired American football cornerback and former president of the National Football League Players Association.

Published by NMAAHC in collaboration with D Giles Limited of London, it retails for $16.95. The book is supported by the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts and funded by the NMAAHC’s Sport Leadership Council.

Game Changers is the ninth volume in the museum’s Double Exposure series, which showcases the museum’s growing photography collections. Previous volumes focused on areas ranging from civil rights and military history to fashion and spirituality. For more information, visit nmaahc.si.edu/publications.