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The History Of The Spelling Bee

Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana is covered with confetti as she celebrates winning the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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AP
Zaila Avant-garde, 14, from Harvey, Louisiana is covered with confetti as she celebrates winning the finals of the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Disney World Thursday, July 8, 2021, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee ended in historic fashion July 8, with Zaila Avant-garde of Louisiana becoming the first African American winner.

The eighth-grader won by correctly spelling the word murraya, a noun describing a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees.

Today on “All Sides with Ann Fisher:” The history of spelling bees and our fascination with them with Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty.

Guests:

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