In addition to her love for dance, Jemison knew that she wanted to study science at a very young age. A few years after she was born, Jemison and her family moved to Chicago, Illinois. The youngest of three children, her mother was an elementary school teacher and her father was a maintenance supervisor. Mae Carol Jemison was born on Octoin Decatur, Alabama. In addition to her many awards, Jemison has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame. She has also written several books and appeared on many television programs including an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In 1992, Jemison became the first African American woman to travel in space. Learning Resources on Women's Political ParticipationĪs a doctor, engineer, and NASA astronaut, Mae Jemison has always reached for the stars.
