Sophia Danenberg
Encyclopedia
Sophia Danenberg is an American
mountain climber best known as the first African American
and the first black woman to climb to the summit of Mount Everest
, the world's tallest mountain. She is biracial, with her father black and her mother Japanese
.
, a stuffed nose, frostbite
on her cheeks, and a clogged oxygen mask.
Since 1953, approximately 2,500 people have reached the summit. The first person of African descent to have done so was South Africa
n Sibusiso Vilane
in 2003.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mountain climber best known as the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and the first black woman to climb to the summit of Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
, the world's tallest mountain. She is biracial, with her father black and her mother Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
.
Mount Everest
At 7 a.m. on May 19, 2006, Danenberg reached the top of Mount Everest. Withstanding bad weather during the night that delayed some other climbers in her party, Pa Nuru Sherpa and his brother Mingma Tshiring were the only climbers to witness the event. At the time, Danenberg was suffering from bronchitisBronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
, a stuffed nose, frostbite
Frostbite
Frostbite is the medical condition where localized damage is caused to skin and other tissues due to extreme cold. Frostbite is most likely to happen in body parts farthest from the heart and those with large exposed areas...
on her cheeks, and a clogged oxygen mask.
Since 1953, approximately 2,500 people have reached the summit. The first person of African descent to have done so was South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Sibusiso Vilane
Sibusiso Vilane
Sibusiso Vilane is a South African mountaineer and motivational speaker.He married his wife Nomsa in 1995 and is the father of three children - two girls and a boy.-Career:...
in 2003.
External links
- SophiaDanenberg.org (official site). WebCitation archive.
- Felshman, Jeffrey. "Up Everest, Quietly: Sophia Danenberg was the first black woman to sit on top of the world and nobody noticed", Chicago Reader, July 13, 2006. WebCitation archive.