h2>Dating : Racism and the Bee
Zaila Avant-Garde’s Triumph Recalls the Story of MacNolia Cox


In 1936, MacNolia Cox, a 13-year old African-American girl, made the finals of the National Spelling Bee. She dominated the field throughout the contest.
She was not only the only contestant to not miss a word,** she accomplished this in the face of racism that eventually poisoned the contest.