June 26th in African American History – Bernard Anthony Harris, Jr.

June 26, 1956 Bernard Anthony Harris, Jr., the first African American to walk in space, was born in Temple, Texas.

Harris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1978 and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1985. In 1988, Harris trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine and Joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Johnson Space Center as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon.

Harris became an astronaut in 1991 and in 1993 flew on his first space mission as a mission specialist. He flew on his second space mission in 1995 as the payload commander and during that mission became the first African American to walk in space. In total, Harris logged 437 hours in space and traveled over 7.1 million miles. Harris left NASA in 1996 and in 1998 founded The Harris Foundation “to invest in community-based initiatives to support education, health and wealth. THF supports programs that empower individuals, in particular minorities and other economically and/or socially disadvantaged, to recognize their potential and pursue their dreams.”

In 2006, the Bernard Harris Middle School opened in San Antonio, Texas. In 2009, he was elected vice president of the American Telemedicine Association.

Related posts:

1. March 23rd in African American History – Patricia Roberts Harris March 23, 1985 Patricia Roberts Harris, the first African American...
2. September 27th in African American History – Stephanie Diana Wilson September 27, 1966 Stephanie Diana Wilson, the second African American...
3. February 10th in African American History – Lusia “Lucy” Harris February 10, 1955 Lusia “Lucy” Harris, hall of fame basketball...
4. November 5th in African American History – Eddie Harris November 5, 1996 Eddie Harris, jazz musician, died. Harris was...
5. October 17th in African American History – Mae Carol Jemison October 17, 1956 Mae Carol Jemison, physician and the first...