A Young Flo Jo: The Moment a Little Girl in Watts Discovered Her Wings

Before she became the fastest woman the world had ever seen… before the sleek one-legged race suits, the record-breaking sprints, and the iconic hair and nails that would become part of pop culture history… Florence Griffith was just a little girl running through the streets of Watts.

It wasn’t a track at first. It was the sidewalks, the alleyways, the parks where neighborhood kids raced each other, no starting blocks, just bare ambition and a pair of worn-out sneakers. Florence ran everywhere — not because someone told her to, but because, deep down, she felt she could fly.

Her mother, Florence Delores Griffith’s biggest cheerleader and fiercest protector, often found herself chasing after her youngest daughter (the seventh of eleven children!) yelling, “Slow down, Flo!” But there was no slowing down. Because even then, Florence knew — if you stop, the world might catch you. And she was destined to stay ahead.

At seven years old, she started competing in track meets organized by the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation. These weren’t just community fun runs; these were proving grounds for Black excellence in a world that rarely gave it a spotlight.

I found a gem while researching this story — a 1974 Los Angeles Times clipping with a photo of a 14-year-old Florence Griffith. By the time she won the Jesse Owens National Youth Games — not once, but twice — it was clear: Florence wasn’t just running from something. She was running toward something: possibility.

But it wasn’t easy. Talent doesn’t pay bills. That’s why young Florence found herself working at a bank, counting out dollars during the day and chasing dreams on the track at night. And just when life seemed like it might weigh her down, along came Coach Bob Kersee, who helped her trade those bank counters for finish lines.

If you’ve ever wondered what fuels a legend, it’s not just talent. It’s sacrifice. It’s dreaming when no one else does. It’s putting on your track spikes after an eight-hour shift because something inside you whispers, “There’s more.”

That little girl from Watts became the fastest woman in history. But before she was Flo Jo, she was just Florence — and she was already running toward greatness.

Want to see the photo that started it all and hear rare archival audio from Florence herself? Check out the full episode of Black Is America: American Women of Speed and visit www.blackisamericapodcast.com.