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February 1988

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Achievement · sport
Debi Thomas Wins Bronze Medal at Calgary Winter Olympics

Debi Thomas, a pre-med student at Stanford, wins a bronze medal in figure skating at the Calgary Winter Olympics — the first Black athlete to medal at the Winter Olympics. Her achievement opens a door in a sport historically inaccessible to Black competitors.

Events

  1. February 27, 1988
    Debi Thomas Wins Bronze Medal at Calgary Winter Olympics

    Debi Thomas, a pre-med student at Stanford, wins a bronze medal in figure skating at the Calgary Winter Olympics — the first Black athlete to medal at the Winter Olympics. Her achievement opens a door in a sport historically inaccessible to Black competitors.

  2. February 12, 1988
    Spike Lee Releases 'School Daze'

    Spike Lee releases 'School Daze,' a musical drama set at a historically Black college that confronts colorism and class divisions within the Black community — among the first mainstream films to do so directly.

  3. February 6, 1988
    Michael Jordan Wins Second Consecutive Slam Dunk Contest

    Michael Jordan wins his second consecutive NBA Slam Dunk Contest, further cementing his legend. He also wins the NBA MVP award, the Defensive Player of the Year award, and leads the Chicago Bulls to the conference finals, establishing himself as the most complete player in basketball.

  4. February 27, 1988
    Debi Thomas medals at the Winter Olympics

    Becomes the first Black athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal.