UCLA is home to well over 30,000 Bruins, proudly representing a thriving and lively campus. There’s so much to love about UCLA: the weather, beautiful campus and tons of organizations and clubs to join. But most of all, I would argue the talented, ambitious and attractive Bruins make UCLA so mass-appealing. While only representing 5% of the undergraduate class, the African American Bruin community has continued to excel and shape the academic, athletic and scientific world. Here are some notable African American Bruins in honor of Black History Month:
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee
-
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, considered to be one of the best female athletes of all time, attended UCLA from 1980 to 1985. Although she’s been retired for many years, Joyner-Kersee still holds the world record for the heptathlon (I had no idea this even existed)! On top of these achievements, she’s competed in four Olympic games, has won six Olympic medals (three of them being gold), holds five world records and was named the greatest female athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated. After retiring, she’s been busy encouraging underprivileged youth to play sports by creating the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Youth Center Foundation. The foundation serves to make sure every child has access to after-school programs, mentorship and recreational places in their community to lead a more healthy balanced lifestyle.
- Ava DuVernay
-
If you’ve watched Selma, 13th or When They See Us, then you’ll already know how talented Ava DuVernay is. DuVernay, who studied English and African American Studies at UCLA and graduated with the class of 1995, is the first Black female director to be nominated for a Golden Globe Award. Her work focuses on bringing awareness and exploring the experiences shared by African Americans in a raw and intimate manner. 13th was a mandatory documentary for one of my high school classes, and it was one of the only school-mandated films I actually watched all the way through. 13th and When They See Us are available on Netflix!
- Jackie Robinson
-
Although we all know about Jackie Robinson’s legendary career, not so many people know that Robinson attended UCLA on an athletic scholarship from 1939 to 1941. And even fewer people know that Robinson didn’t just play baseball as a Bruin; he was a football, basketball, track and field and baseball star. Robinson went on to join the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, becoming the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. The next time you walk past Bruin Plaza, take a second to look at the Jackie Robinson monument in front of the John Wooden Center.
Fun Fact: Apparently the monument is 42 inches to match Robinson’s iconic number when he played for the Dodgers!
- Nia Dennis
-
If you haven’t been to a gymnastics meet yet, you’re missing out on so much fun! The next home meet is UCLA vs Arizona State on February 11th (mark your calendars). When you’re researching UCLA’s gymnastics team in the meantime, you’ll find Nia Dennis on the notable alumni list. Although she’s retired, Dennis majored in sociology during her time at UCLA. In 2021, her viral floor routine celebrating Black excellence accumulated millions of views on YouTube. It’s easy to see why Dennis is considered one of UCLA’s best gymnasts. Her routines are charismatic, powerful and captivating. As an alumna, Nia’s days are packed as an Adidas ambassador, model, dancer and ambassador for Teen Cancer America to improve the lives of young adults with cancer.
It’s easy to forget how many accomplishments have been achieved by fellow Bruins or to appreciate attending college when you’re running late to lecture or the workload becomes overwhelming. This February, I plan to take the extra time to think about our amazing alumni (especially from the African American community), and I encourage you to do the same!