On this day in Black history: First Black space walker, first Black Nat’l Book Award winner and more

On this day in Black history, February 9:

— In 1953, author Ralph Ellison became the first Black writer to win the National Book Award for his debut novel, Invisible Man.

— In 1971, Leroy “Satchel” Paige became the first Negro League veteran to be nominated for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The pitching legend was inducted in August 1971.

— In 1995, astronaut Bernard Harris launched on the STS-63 mission of the shuttle Discovery, making a lengthy excursion outside Discovery to become the first Black person to walk in space.

— Happy birthday to Major Harris, Alice Walker, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Colyar, “Bruce Bruce” Church, Corey Parker Robinson and Sunjai Williams.