February 2: On this day in 1914— African American Biologist Ernest Just Received NAACP Spingarn Medal!

Dr. Ernest Everett Just, born in Charleston, South Carolina, was a prominent black biologist who specialized in the field of marine biology. After graduating from Dartmouth College at the top of his class with a degree in zoology, he advanced in his field through his work at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts. Although he only worked at the institution during the summers, Dr. Just published numerous significant scientific papers.

In 1915, Dr. Just became the first person to receive the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor awarded by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The medal is awarded to African Americans who have made great strides in human service. Dr. Just went on to teach at Howard University in Washington D.C. for 34 years.