Black History Month – S. Kincey02/23/06

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Carter G. Woodson1875 - 1950

Founder of Negro History Week

(now “Black History Month”)

A FEW INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED EVERYDAY LIFE

Jones was the first person to invent a practical, mechanical refrigeration system for trucks and railroad cars, which eliminated the risk of food spoilage during long-distance shipping trips. The system was, in turn, adapted to a variety of other common carriers, including ships.

Elijah McCoy was the first to make a cup that would oil moving parts so that a worker wouldn't have to stop the steam engine and oil the moving parts. The saying THE REAL MCCOY, meaning the real thing has been accredited to Elijah McCoy's invention. (The theory is that railroad engineers looking to avoid inferior copies would inquire if a locomotive was fitted with "the real McCoy system“)

A FEW INVENTIONS THAT CHANGED EVERYDAY LIFE

Alfred L. Cralle (September 4, 1866–1920) was an African-American from Virginia who became an inventor and businessman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is best remembered for inventing the ice cream scoop in 1897, a practical design still widely in use over 100 years later.

William Purvis of Philadelphia invented and patented improvements to the fountain pen in 1890. William Purvis made several improvements to the fountain pen in order to make a "more durable, inexpensive, and better pen to carry in the pocket."

AFRICAN AMERICAN PIONEERS

George Washington Carver

(1864-1943)

American scientist, educator, humanitarian, and former slave. Carver developed hundreds of products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, pecans, and soybeans; his discoveries greatly improved the agricultural output and the health of Southern farmers.

THE FIRST BLOOD BANK Charles R. Drew’s research in the field of

blood transfusions, developed improved techniques for blood storage. His expert knowledge was instrumental in developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II

First successful open heart surgery operation

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams born in 1856 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, the fifth of eight children made history by performing the first successful open heart surgery operation.

More African American Firsts

Bessie Coleman: ►1893 - 1926

►First Black women pilot 1921

Wilma Rudolph: ►1940 - 1994 ►First American women to win 3 gold medals (1960)

Jesse Owens

►1913-1980

►He won four gold medals in Track and Field at the 1936 Olympics

► Armstrong, Louis “Satchmo” (Daniel Louis Armstrong), 1901–1971, American jazz trumpet virtuoso, singer, and band leader.

► Berry, Chuck (Charles Edward Anderson Berry), 1926- , American rock music, guitarist, singer and songwriter.

► Berry Gordy, 1929- In 1959 he founded the Motown Record Corporation. The early hit-makers included: the Supremes, the Four Tops, the Temptations, and Martha and the Vandellas and the Jackson 5.

► Holiday, Billie, 1915-59, American singer. Her birth name was Eleanora Fagan. She sang with many famous jazz musicians. She died at a an early age and the movie “Lady Sings the Blues” is based on her life.

Black Musicians

IMPORTANT DATES IN TIME

DATES TO REMEMBER JANUARY 1, 1863

◦ The Emancipation Proclamation issued by United States President  Abraham Lincoln was signed during the American Civil War under his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with the rest freed as Union armies advanced.

DECEMBER 6, 1865

◦ The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865.

APRIL 3, 1944

◦ The Supreme Court rules in Smith v. Allwright that “White primaries” could not exclude Black voters.

MAY 17, 1954

◦ In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court outlaws segregation in the public school system. Landmark Brown v. Board of Education Topeka decision sounded death knell for legal segregation in the United States.

MORE DATES TO REMEMBER

DECEMBER 5, 1955

◦ Historic bus boycott begins in Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks sparked the boycott when she refused to give her bus seat to a White man. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was elected president of the boycott organization.

SEPTEMBER 25, 1957

◦ Nine Little Rock, Arkansas, schoolchildren are escorted to Central High School by federal troops, ending efforts to thwart court Ordered integration.

AUGUST 28, 1963

◦ 25,000 people participate in the March on Washington, the biggest civil rights demonstration ever. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his famous speech “I Have a Dream.”

MARCH 21, 1965◦ Thousands of marchers, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and

protected by federal troops, complete the first leg of the Selma-to Montgomery march.

MORE DATES TO REMEMBER

FEBRUARY 21, 1965◦ Malcolm X {Malcolm Little} charismatic Black nationalist

leader, is assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem. Three Blacks were later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

APRIL 4, 1968◦ Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated by a James Earl Ray

in Memphis. The assassination triggered a national crisis with rioting in more than 100 cities and calls for racial renewal and repentance. President Johnson declared a day of mourning. Note: James Earl Ray died April 23, 1998.

NOVEMBER 2, 1983◦ President Ronald Reagan signs a bill designating the third

Monday in January of each year as a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Millions celebrated the first holiday on January 20, 1986.

Put your African American knowledge to the Test

Short Online Quiz