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TIL in 1963 Wendell Scott became to first African American to win a Nascar Race. Though being two laps ahead of the other cars, was ignored because the winner was to kiss a white beauty queen. He was awarded the trophy in 2010, 20 years after his death. (More in Comments).

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vPkW8 TIL Deinotherium was a large elephant-like animal with tusks which grew down and curved back from the lower jaw. With shoulder heights of 4 metres (13 ft) and body masses of over 10 tonnes, it is among the largest land mammals to ever have lived
eZjE TIL of “Sailor Jerry Collins”, a tattoo artist who cured his own skin cancer by tattooing prescription meds, meant to be taken internally, directly on to malignant areas.
Py5g TIL: In the 8th century, Danish king Harald Wartooth, realizing he might die of old age and therefore not go to Valhalla, asked the Swedish king Sigurd for a battle. Wartooth was slain after amassing enough glory, and Sigurd was crowned king of Sweden & Denmark. 40,000 other warriors died.
jNBmM TIL of Devon Lee who on Feb 23rd, 1885, was attempted to be hung 3 separate times, but all 3 failed due to a faulty door that worked perfectly fine when Lee wasn't on deck. After the 3rd failed attempt, due to the law, he was returned to his cell and eventually acquitted some years later.
neab9 TIL That the attack on Pearl Harbor was so unexpected, that as the bombing began, one seaman turned to his friend and said, "This is the best damn drill the Army has ever put on!"