Thursday, March 28, 2024

Black history month continues

By Sister Shirley Tarpley

The story of Carter G. Woodson, father of Black History (December 1875 – April 1950, it is a captivating and inspiration story in itself.

In 1915, Woodson and the Rev. Jesse E. Moorland co-founded the Association for the study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH).  Their goal was to research and bring awareness to the largely ignored, yet crucial role black people played in American and world histories.

The following year, Woodson published and distributed his findings in The Journal of Negro History with the hope of that it would dispel popular mistruths; he also hoped to educate black people about their cultural background and instill them with a sense of pride in their race.

The son of former slaves and the second black person to receive a degree from Harvard University; he understood the value of education and the importance of preserving one’s heritage.

Woodson said, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”  Dr. Woodson, a distinguished Black author, editor, publisher, and historian put his money, life, blood, sweat and tears in establishing Black History Week, (in the 1960s it was established as Black History MONTH) he  believed that Blacks should know their past in order to participate intelligently in the affairs in our country.  He strongly believed that Black history—which others (even some Black Americans) have tried so diligently to erase—is a firm foundation for young Black Americans to build on in order to become productive citizens of our society.

Woodson often said that he hoped the time would come when Negro History Week would be unnecessary; when all Americans would willingly recognize the contributions of Black Americans as a legitimate and integral part of the history of this country.  His concept has given a profound sense of dignity to all Black Americans; and we must not forget it!  Nor should we stop Black History Month.

Remember, this is not just Black History that we are celebrating; not just America’s history, but world history.  There are many great and useful inventions that are being used worldwide that are taken for granted that were invented by Black Americans.  Henry T. Sampson in 1971 invented the cellular phone; how many cell phones do you see in use today?  On a trip to Hong Kong, China, it seems that everybody was talking on a cell phone.  I asked one tour bus guide if she used her house phone as much as she formerly did before she purchased her cell phone, she told me that very few people had house phones now; the majority of people only use cell phones and now, to me, in America, the young people only use cell phones, you can do the same thing with a cell phone as you can a regular PC. Philip Emeagwali, considered a “father of the Internet” by many individuals, including former President Bill Clinton, helped give birth to the ‘supercomputer’ the technology that spawned the world wide web. Otis Boykin invented more than 25 electronic devices that are used in computers and guided missiles today. Frederick M. Jones on Feb. 23, 1960, invented the thermostat control. P. Johnson on Nov. 2, 1880, invented the Eye Protector.

How many industries that are vital to America’s success have been profoundly influenced by the contributions of Black Inventors?  There is an endless list of contributions by Black people in America. We would not have many agriculture and automobiles products; and communications as we know it. Thank God for Black History Month.

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