African-American Athletes Who Have Broken Records

Tiger Woods, Bo Jackson, Hank Aaron and more.

Changing the Game - Take a look back at athletes who made history.—BET.com

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Changing the Game - Take a look back at athletes who made history.—BET.com

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired in 1989 with several NBA records, including most career points (38,387), most minutes played (57,446), most field goals made (15,837), and most All-Star selections (19). (Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar retired in 1989 with several NBA records, including most career points (38,387), most minutes played (57,446), most field goals made (15,837), and most All-Star selections (19). (Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Doug Williams - To this day, Doug Williams is the first and only African-American to not only play in a Super Bowl but to win one, as well. Williams led the Washington Redskins to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in 1988.  (Photo: Bud Symes/Getty Images)

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Doug Williams - To this day, Doug Williams is the first and only African-American to not only play in a Super Bowl but to win one, as well. Williams led the Washington Redskins to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in 1988.  (Photo: Bud Symes/Getty Images)

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Tiger Woods - Golfer Tiger Woods broke onto the golf scene in 1996 and wasted little time proving he’s the most dominant player in the sport. Woods became the youngest and first African-American to win the Masters, winning by 12 strokes in 1997.(Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Barry Bonds - Love him or hate him, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds did the unthinkable twice in the home run category. In 2001, Bonds hit 73 home runs, breaking Mark McGwire’s single-season record of 70. And in 2007, Bonds became the all-time home run king when he slugged his 756th home run, surpassing Hank Aaron.(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Barry Bonds - Love him or hate him, San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds did the unthinkable twice in the home run category. In 2001, Bonds hit 73 home runs, breaking Mark McGwire’s single-season record of 70. And in 2007, Bonds became the all-time home run king when he slugged his 756th home run, surpassing Hank Aaron.(Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Emmitt Smith - In October 2002, running back Emmitt Smith surpassed Walter Payton to become the NFL’s all-time career rushing leader. The Hall of Famer finished his career with 18,355 yards, more than 1,600 yards ahead of Payton.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

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Emmitt Smith - In October 2002, running back Emmitt Smith surpassed Walter Payton to become the NFL’s all-time career rushing leader. The Hall of Famer finished his career with 18,355 yards, more than 1,600 yards ahead of Payton.(Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Hank Aaron - Despite Barry Bonds’ accomplishments, many baseball fans still consider Hank Aaron the all-time home run king. Faced with death threats, Aaron was able to overcome off-the-field distractions and break Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record of 714 on April 8, 1974.(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Hank Aaron - Despite Barry Bonds’ accomplishments, many baseball fans still consider Hank Aaron the all-time home run king. Faced with death threats, Aaron was able to overcome off-the-field distractions and break Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record of 714 on April 8, 1974.(Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

George Foreman: January 10 - The boxer and grill master turns 64.(Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for MTV Networks)

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George Foreman - At age 45, George Foreman became the oldest fighter ever to win the world heavyweight championship when he defeated Michael Moorer in 1994. Foreman eventually retired for good in 1997, with a record of 76-5.(Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for MTV Networks)

Rafer Johnson - Former decathlete Rafer Johnson is often regarded as one of the best all-around athletes ever. Johnson was the first African-American to carry the U.S. flag in the Olympic procession. He went on to shatter the record in the decathlon with 8,392 points, easily winning the gold medal.(Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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Rafer Johnson - Former decathlete Rafer Johnson is often regarded as one of the best all-around athletes ever. Johnson was the first African-American to carry the U.S. flag in the Olympic procession. He went on to shatter the record in the decathlon with 8,392 points, easily winning the gold medal.(Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Oscar Robertson - Nicknamed “The Big O,” Oscar Robertson is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. In 1961-62, Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game.(Photo: Ron Wolfson /Landov)

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Oscar Robertson - Nicknamed “The Big O,” Oscar Robertson is the only player in NBA history to average a triple-double for an entire season. In 1961-62, Robertson averaged 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 11.4 assists per game.(Photo: Ron Wolfson /Landov)

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Althea Gibson - The “Jackie Robinson of tennis,” Althea Gibson was the first African-American woman to compete on the women’s tennis tour and the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956.(Photo:PA Photos /Landov)

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Althea Gibson - The “Jackie Robinson of tennis,” Althea Gibson was the first African-American woman to compete on the women’s tennis tour and the first to win a Grand Slam title in 1956.(Photo:PA Photos /Landov)

Arthur Ashe - Former tennis star and humanitarian Arthur Ashe is the first and only African-American to win the men’s singles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open.(Photo:PA Photos /Landov)

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Arthur Ashe - Former tennis star and humanitarian Arthur Ashe is the first and only African-American to win the men’s singles titles at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open.(Photo:PA Photos /Landov)

Bo Jackson - Before his career was ended prematurely due to injuries, Bo Jackson excelled in two different sports. Jackson is the only athlete to be named an All-Star in two sports (MLB and NFL). A hip injury ended Jacskon’s promising career at the age of 31.(Photo: Ai Wire /Landov)

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Bo Jackson - Before his career was ended prematurely due to injuries, Bo Jackson excelled in two different sports. Jackson is the only athlete to be named an All-Star in two sports (MLB and NFL). A hip injury ended Jacskon’s promising career at the age of 31.(Photo: Ai Wire /Landov)

Cito Gaston - Former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston was the first African-American to lead a team to a World Series title in 1992. Gaston followed up his success with the Blue Jays the following year, winning back-to-back World Series championships.(Photo: Fred Thornhill /Landov/REUTERS)

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Cito Gaston - Former Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston was the first African-American to lead a team to a World Series title in 1992. Gaston followed up his success with the Blue Jays the following year, winning back-to-back World Series championships.(Photo: Fred Thornhill /Landov/REUTERS)

Jackie Robinson - It all started with Jackie Robinson. The Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman was the first African-American Major League Baseball player in the modern era, breaking the color line in 1947. Robinson displayed his skills on the field and won the 1947 MLB Rookie of the Year award.(Photo H O/Ladov/REUTERS)

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Jackie Robinson - It all started with Jackie Robinson. The Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman was the first African-American Major League Baseball player in the modern era, breaking the color line in 1947. Robinson displayed his skills on the field and won the 1947 MLB Rookie of the Year award.(Photo H O/Ladov/REUTERS)

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Wilma Rudolph - At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Wilma Rudolph was the first African-American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games.(Photo: dpa /Landov)

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Wilma Rudolph - At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Wilma Rudolph was the first African-American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games.(Photo: dpa /Landov)

Wilt Chamberlain - The most dominant basketball player of all-time, Wilt Chamberlain holds 72 NBA all-time records, including 63 that he holds by himself. Chamberlain’s two most impressive records are most points in a single-game (100) and most points per game in a season (50.2).(Photo: Ron Wolfson /Landov)

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Wilt Chamberlain - The most dominant basketball player of all-time, Wilt Chamberlain holds 72 NBA all-time records, including 63 that he holds by himself. Chamberlain’s two most impressive records are most points in a single-game (100) and most points per game in a season (50.2).(Photo: Ron Wolfson /Landov)