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Dr. Patricia Bath - Ophthalmologist, Inventor "Eyesight is a basoc human right." Dr. Patricia Bath (1942 - 2019) has a long list of 'firsts', achievements, and patents attributed to her. Dr. Bath was born in Harlem to Rupert and Gladys Bath; Gladys was a housewife, while Rupert was the first Black motorman for the NYC … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #14
Song: "Heed the Words of the Brother" by X Clan. X Clan was an early 1990s rap group, known for Funk influences and heavy Black-centric themes. Criminal, self-educated, reformed, activist, terrorist, radical, charismatic uniter, leader. Nation of Islam Spokesman. Survived prison. Survived the Black Legion. Could not survive "members of the Nation of Islam" ('FBI … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #13
This story comes from local news station, WHAS-11. A very interesting story, especially if you're from the Louisville area. "Walnut Street" Link
"Berea College" When you think of 'Black History Month, Berea College - a small, Liberal Arts school in Berea, KY - probably isn't one of the first things or places that you think of (me included). However, there is some pretty important history that came from this school. Such as: Carter Godwin Woodson. Woodson (1875 - … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #11
In honor of the Academy Awards last night, here is a link to the biography for Hattie McDaniels. In 1940, McDaniels, for her role as 'Mattie' in "Gone With The Wind", became the first African American to win an Academy Award.
Minnijean Brown. Elizabeth Eckford. Ernest Green. Thelma Mothershed. Melba Patillo. Gloria Ray. Terrence Roberts. Jefferson Thomas. Carlotta Walls. These are the "Little Rock 9": the first Black students to enroll in an all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. Before that story is recapped, there is a story that needs to be … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #9
“Maybe the law ain’t perfect, but it’s the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin” — Bass Reeves Bass Reeves (1838 - 1910) was born a slave in Arkansas; by the time of his death, he was known as the first Black Deputy Marshall west of the Mississippi, one of the greatest frontiersmen in the … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #7
The U.S. Congress - for good or ill - has seemingly been in the news for most of the last year. A wave of women and minorities hit the House of Representative in 2016 and 2018. There haven't been too many minorities in the Congress in my lifetime (I'm 41 years old). However, the ones … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #6
Jerry Lawson, an Engineer, is generally credited as the first black game designer. Lawson was not only a self-taught engineer but one of the very few black engineers of his time. In 1976, after spending time at Queens College, Lawson developed the Fairchild Channel F, the first cartridge-bases console system that had a Pause button … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #5
I don't think I need to explain how much I like Drum & Bugle Corps (or Marching Band, in general). How does this tie into Black History Month? An article from 2007, from Drum Corps International (DCI). I haven't been able to find info or stats on the percentage of black marchers and Drum Majors … Continue reading Black History Month: Facts #4
