Trailblazers in Black History: John Baxter Taylor Jr.

John Baxter Taylor Jr. was an American track and field athlete, notable as the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal. 

He was born in Washington, D.C. to former slaves. The family settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he attended public schools and graduated from Central High School in 1902. He spent a year at Brown Preparatory School, also in Philadelphia, where he was the fastest high school quarter-miler in the country. 

Additional information is available here. 

Source: Wikipedia