If you are not African American, chances are you may not know about the part African Americans have played in shaping this nation. Yes, you are aware that a long time ago slavery existed in this country, and perhaps you've heard of the late Martin Luther King, Jr., but does your knowledge stop right about there? If so, I humbly suggest to you that you've been cheated! From inventions and medicine to warfare and back breaking labor, blacks have been an integral part of building the United States of America.
Tell me, did you put sugar in your coffee this morning? How about on top of your cereal? Thank Norbert Rillieux, who came up with the technique for changing sugar cane juice into white sugar crystals.
When you were last out driving, there were traffic lights to prevent mayhem. Well, Garrett Morgan developed the first automatic traffic signal. Imagine life without this invention! Not a pleasant thought.
Frederick McKinley Jones developed the first automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks. Remember that the next time you see a Tyson Chicken truck rolling down the interstate. My personal favorite is the Velvet Ice Cream truck with the mouth-watering photo of different flavored scoops on the side!
For eight years, I lived in Washington, D.C. If you've never visited our nation's capitol, make a point of doing so, and while you are there, gaze upon the White House and Capitol building. Yes, these were built by slaves who worked along side paid laborers.
Eleven years ago, scientist Lonnie G. Johnson invented the Super Soaker Squirt Gun. My kids (and probably yours, too) love those things on hot summer days! Who says there can't be innovations that promote pure fun? Aren't you glad there are?
Oh, and backing up to the Revolutionary period in America, Crispus Attacks, fugitive slave, was the first man to die for the cause of freedom in the Boston Massacre. Now, I'll admit that this one holds a special place in my memory; I was born on the fifth of March, the same day that this historical event occurred, only 240 years after the fact!
Most contributions by Blacks (and I've barely scratched the surface), have sadly been excluded from American history books. Nonetheless, in today's high tech world, there's little excuse for failing to enrich one's knowledge of this very interesting subject.
Go ahead. Catch up on the past and the present. You owe it to yourself, your children, and your country.
Tell me, did you put sugar in your coffee this morning? How about on top of your cereal? Thank Norbert Rillieux, who came up with the technique for changing sugar cane juice into white sugar crystals.
When you were last out driving, there were traffic lights to prevent mayhem. Well, Garrett Morgan developed the first automatic traffic signal. Imagine life without this invention! Not a pleasant thought.
Frederick McKinley Jones developed the first automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks. Remember that the next time you see a Tyson Chicken truck rolling down the interstate. My personal favorite is the Velvet Ice Cream truck with the mouth-watering photo of different flavored scoops on the side!
For eight years, I lived in Washington, D.C. If you've never visited our nation's capitol, make a point of doing so, and while you are there, gaze upon the White House and Capitol building. Yes, these were built by slaves who worked along side paid laborers.
Eleven years ago, scientist Lonnie G. Johnson invented the Super Soaker Squirt Gun. My kids (and probably yours, too) love those things on hot summer days! Who says there can't be innovations that promote pure fun? Aren't you glad there are?
Oh, and backing up to the Revolutionary period in America, Crispus Attacks, fugitive slave, was the first man to die for the cause of freedom in the Boston Massacre. Now, I'll admit that this one holds a special place in my memory; I was born on the fifth of March, the same day that this historical event occurred, only 240 years after the fact!
Most contributions by Blacks (and I've barely scratched the surface), have sadly been excluded from American history books. Nonetheless, in today's high tech world, there's little excuse for failing to enrich one's knowledge of this very interesting subject.
Go ahead. Catch up on the past and the present. You owe it to yourself, your children, and your country.
I'm Sherryl Fegan, wife, mother of four teenagers, and homeschooler of 14 years. My desire is to share my love of African American history.
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