BLACK HISTORY FACTS

By Thomas Ellis II

February is Black History Month. It’s a time to teach, and reflect on all the great accomplishments, achievements, inventions, and patents that Blacks have made in this country.

Congressman John Lewis started out as an influential SNCC leader and is recognized by most as one of the most important leaders of the civil rights movement. He was born on February 21, 1940 in Troy, Alabama, and his family were sharecroppers.

In 1963, Lewis help plan the March on Washington, and at the age of 23, he was one of the keynote speakers at the now historic event. In 1965, Lewis led 500 plus people across the Edmond Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, which was the focus of the movie “Selma,” showing his role in the civil right struggle and movement.

Black History Facts

· Frederick M. Jones invented the air conditioning unit July 12, 1949

· W.H. Richardson invented the baby buggy June 18, 1899

· S.R. Scratton invented the curtain rod November 30, 1889

· Willie Johnson invented the egg beater February 5, 1884

· Alexander Miles invented the elevator October 11, 1867

· Lydia O Newman invented the hair brush

· Madam C.J. Walker invented the straightening comb in 1905

· Edmond Berger invented the spark plug February 2, 1839

· T. Marshall invented the fire extinguisher October 26, 1872

· L.A. Burr invented the lawn mower May 19, 1889

· J. Standard invented the refrigerator June 14, 1891

· In 2008 Barack H. Obama became the first Black President of the United States of America.

Did you know that on December 30, 1887, Sarah Boone invented the ironing board? Before its invention, women had to use a table or other flat surface to do there ironing, but thanks to Sarah Boone’s invention it made ironing much easier not only for women, but for men who also who iron clothes, and other garments.

Granville T. Woods 1856-1910: Granville was born in Columbus Ohio, in April 23, 1856. He dedicated his life to developing a variety of inventions relating to the railroad industry.

To many people, he was known as the “Black Edison.: Granville T. Woods invented more than a dozen devices to improve electric railway cars, and many more for controlling the flow of electricity.

He is most known for his invention to let the engineer of a train know how close his train was to others. The device helped cut down accidents and collisions between trains.

Frederick M. Jones was a great inventor; he was known as one of the most prolific Black inventors ever. He patented more than 60 inventions in his lifetime.

Jones is known for his invention of an automatic refrigeration system for long haul and trucks and rail cars.

Before his invention the only way to keep food cool in trucks was to load the truck or train cars with ice, Mr. Jones was inspired to invent the system after talking with a truck driver who lost his whole cargo of chicken because he couldn’t reach his destination before the ice melted. As a solution, the Black inventor developed a roof-mounted cooling system to make sure the food stayed fresh.

Marian Anderson was born February 27, 1897. She was an African American contralto, and one of the most celebrated singers of her time. Anderson became an important figure in the struggle for black artists to overcome racial prejudice in the United States during the mid- twentieth century.

Anderson worked for several years as a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and as a goodwill ambassador. She also gave concerts all over the world, and participated in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, singing at the March on Washington for Jobs, and Freedom.

Now if you noticed, all of the Black inventors and their inventions came during a time in this country when Blacks were enslaved or being mistreated, not considered equal or had any political power.

It just goes to show what people can do if they set their minds to it, and how if they see a need, what they can do to address that need, and leave an indelible mark, not only for one race of people but for humanity. Some of the same products and inventions that were created back in the 1800s are still being used today.

We should never forget the history of Blacks in this country because many of them paved the way for the luxuries we have today.

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