By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Correspondent
14-Year-old Becomes First African American to Win Scripps National Spelling Bee
Zaila Avant-garde wins the trophy
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July 15, 2021
Zaila Avant-garde made history Thursday as the first African American student to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The word she spelled correctly to win was "Murraya," which is a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees. Her victory during the final round also means she is the first Black champion since Jody-Anne Maxwell in 1998. Lisa Desjardins reports on her life and accomplishments. (Photo: Screen Capture from PBS News Hour Video / YouTube)
NNPA NEWSWIRE - After spelling the word "Murraya," a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees, Zaila Avant-garde became the first African American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The contest has existed for nearly a century. "Now I get to get a nice trophy, which is the best part of any win," Zaila exclaimed in an ESPN interview right after her history-making victory.
Zaila Avant-garde made history Thursday as the first African American student to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The word she spelled correctly to win was "Murraya," which is a genus of tropical Asiati...
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