A Century of Black Life History and Culture

A Century of Black Life, History , and Culture Black History Month Presentation

Introduction • Black History Month • Founder: Dr. Carter G. Woodson • Launched Negro History Week in 1926, chosen in the second week of February between the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, which evolved into Black History Month in 1976 • Known for writing the contributions of black Americans into the national spotlight, received a Ph. D at Harvard University • Founded the Association for the Study of Afro-American Life and History in 1915, founded the Journal of Negro History in 1916 • Author of the book, "The Miseducation of the Negro", published in 1933

? ? ? Why is it important to celebrate diversity? • Knowledge is the key to tolerance. • To gain a new perspective on the lives of others around you as well as around the world • To overcome ignorance and prejudice • To understand others perspectives, to broaden our own, and to fully experience and educate ourselves. • Understanding people and their backgrounds is crucial to personal and community growth.

Famous Actors • Hattie Mc. Daniel (June 10, 1895 – October 26, 1952) was an American actress, singersongwriter, and comedienne. She is best known for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind (1939) for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first African American to win an Academy Award.

Athletes • Before Richard Sherman there was Charles Follies. • The National Football League was officially founded in 1920, but its origins date back to 1869, at which point Blacks were barred from playing due to segregation. Charles Follies is celebrated as the first African. American to play professional football, as a member of the Shelby Athletic Club in 1902. • 1902 2015

Famous Actors • James Baskett • This African-American actor was the first male to win an Honorary Oscar in 1948 for his performance as Uncle Remes in the Disney film, “Song of the South. ” Although it was an honorary award, Baskett was still the first black man to take home an Academy Award of any kind.

Athletes • Before Adrian Peterson there was • Woody Strode • Along with Kenny Washington, LA Rams picked up Woody Strode in 1946, ending a nearly 12 -year ban on Black athletes in the NFL. Both Strode and Washington were formerly teammates with baseball legend Jackie Robinson on the 1939 UCLA Bruins football team.

Famous Actors • Sindey Poitier • Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win the Best Actor Oscar and the only one until Denzel Washington for. Training Day (2001), 38 years later. By a strange coincidence, Washington won the Best Actor award on the same night when Poitier received an Honorary Oscar. An actor who refused to play stereotypical roles.

Athletes • Before Marshawn Lynch there was Kenny Washington • After 31 years of limited immigration that granted athletes such as Charles Follis the opportunity to play, the NFL implemented a full ban on Black athletes in 1933. The ban was lifted in 1946, and the LA Rams became the first team to integrate after hiring Kenny Washington, a stand-out star on the football field at the University of California Los Angeles.

Famous Actors • Louis Gosset Jr. • Academy Award fo Best Actor in a Supporting Role An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Athletes • Before Kobe Bryant there was Nat Clifton • Joining Chuck Cooper and Earl Lloyd in making history was Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first to sign an NBA contract with the New York Knicks, where he played for seven seasons.

Famous Actors • Denzel Washington • Second African-American actor to receive an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Thirtyeight years after Sidney Poitier.

Athletes • Before Lebron James there was Chuck Cooper. • Also in 1950, along with Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper entered the NBA when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics. He would also be the first African-American to be drafted by a professional basketball team.

Famous Actors • Whoopi Goldberg • She is the first African American to have received Academy Award nominations for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. • Received award for Best Supporting Actress for her character Oda Mae Brown in the film ghost.

Athletes • Before Ken Griffey, Jr. there was Jackie Robinson. • There is no other athlete more associated with the term “breaking the color barrier” than Jackie Robinson, who became the first Black player in major league baseball when he signed on to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

Famous Actors • Cuba Gooding Jr. • Best Actor in a Supporting Role Jerry Maguire (1996) •

Athletes • Before Michael Jackson there was Earl Lloyd • Earl Lloyd • When Earl Lloyd entered the National Basketball Association in 1950, he and three other players became the first Black players to do so. In addition, Lloyd, a member of the Washington Capitals, became the first African-American to play in an NBA game when his team took on the Rochester Royals that year.

Famous Inventors • Frederick M. Jones • Designed and patented a portable air-cooling unit for trucks carrying perishable food and a thermostat control. • In 1944, he became the first African American elected to the American Society of Refrigeration Engineers.

Athletes • Before P. K. Subban there was Willie O’Ree • Willie O’Ree broke the color barrier on the ice when he was hired by the Quebec Aces, a minor -league team affiliated with the Boston Bruins, in 1956.

Famous Inventors • Benjamin Banneker was a largely self-educated mathematician, astronomer, compiler of almanacs and writer.

Athletes • Before Vanessa and Serena Williams, there was Althea Gibson • Tennis prodigy Althea Gibson conquered African-American tennis tournaments and, in 1950, she was given the opportunity to shatter even more records when she became the first African-American woman to compete at the U. S. Open. In 1951, she made her first appearance at Wimbledon. She was winner of the French Open in 1956, Wimbledon in 1957 and 1958, and the U. S. Open in 1957 and 1958.

Famous Inventors • Granville T. Woods • His second invention, an improved telephone transmitter. One of his most important inventions was the "troller, " a grooved metal wheel that allowed street cars (later known as "trolleys") to collect electric power from overhead wires.

Athletes • Before Tiger Woods there was Charlie Sifford • Charlie Sifford • Golfer Charlie Sifford became the first Black PGA Tour member in 1962, paving the way for other Black golfing greats such Peter Brown, the first African-American to win a PGA tournament, and Tiger Woods, the first person of color to win the Masters.

Famous Inventors • George Cook • In 1899, black American inventor George Cook of Louisville, Kentucky, received a U. S. patent for an "Automatic Fishing Device"

Athletes

Famous Inventors • William H. Richardson patented an improvement to the baby carriage in the United States on June, 1889.

Athletes

Famous Inventors • Alexander Ashbourne • The biscuit cutter was invented in 1875 by Alexander P. Ashbourne, an African-American inventor and dry goods grocer from Oakland, California.

Athletes

Famous Inventors • Charles Drew was an African-American surgeon who pioneered methods of storing blood plasma for transfusion and organized the first large-scale blood bank in the U. S.

Athletes

Famous Inventors • Thomas Elkins • n 1872, a U. S. patent was issued to Thomas Elkins for a new article of chamber furniture which he designated a "Chamber Commode"

Athletes

Famous Inventors • George T Sampson • He was an African-American inventor for the clothes dryer. His dryer had a combination of frames for drying and supporting clothes. It included a long pan that was utilized as a receptacle for wet clothes. Sampson's invention was to suspend clothing in close relation to a stove by means of frames.

Athletes

Famous Inventors • Samuel R. Scrottron • The invention has relation to that class of metallic curtain-rods adapted to be secured.

Famous Inventors • William S. Grant • The curtain rod support was invented by William S. Grant on August 4, 1896. The invention of the curtain rod support came about four years after S. R. Scottron invented the curtain rod.

Famous Inventors • Osbourn Dorsey • The U. S. Patent Office received a submission made for improvements on a door-closing device by an African American inventor named Osbourn Dorsey. Door knobs and door handles are now a vital part of modern doors!

Famous Inventors • Willie Johnson • It was a double acting machine with two chambers. Batter could be beaten in one section and eggs could be beaten in another section, or one section could be cleaned while the other section could continue beating.

Famous Inventors • Lewis Latimer • Latimer's deep knowledge of both patents and electrical engineering made Latimer an indispensible partner to Edison as he promoted and defended his light bulb design.

Famous Inventors • Alexander Miles was an African-American inventor who was best known for being awarded a patent for an automatically opening and closing elevator door design in 1887

Famous Inventors • Powell Johnson • On November 2, 1880, Johnson Powell received a patent for an eye-protector for use of furnace men, puddlers, firemen, and others exposed to glare of strong light.

Famous Inventors • Joseph W. Winters • Joseph Richard Winters was an African. American abolitionist and inventor who, on May 7, 1878 received U. S. Patent number 203, 517 for a wagon-mounted fire escape ladder.

Famous Inventors • Thomas Marshall • Marshall's fire-extinguishing sprinkler system has been in use in the United States since 1874. It was commonly used in large factories as an effective means of putting out large and potentially catastrophic fires. Today, sprinkler systems are required by code in the United States in buildings more than 75 feet tall.

Famous Inventors • Leonard C. Bailey • He invented and received patents for a series of devices, many designed for military or government use. These included a folding bed, [2] a rapid mail-stamping machine, a device to shunt trains to different tracks, and a hernia truss adopted into wide use by the U. S. Military.

Famous Inventors • Nathaniel Alexander • On July 7, 1911 Nathaniel Alexander of Lynchburg, Virginia patented a folding chair. According to his patent, Nathaniel Alexander designed his chair to be used in schools, churches, and other auditoriums. His design included a book rest that was usable for the person sitting in the seat behind and was ideal for church or choir use.

Famous Inventors • Walter B. Purvis • 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.

Famous Inventors • David A. Fisher • David Fisher, a black inventor created a device that holds furniture parts together. His device came in handy because originally, a worker had to work in slow steps, pausing at different times to combine pieces of wood together so one could bind them. Fisher fixed the delay in the process.

Famous Inventors • Garrett Morgan • But Morgan's most prolific accomplishments came in his role as an inventor. He received a patent for the first gas mask invention in 1914, Garrett Morgan's other famous invention – the traffic signal – was also invented to help save lives.

Famous Inventors • George T. Grant • He set about to improve the game of golf and as a result he received U. S. patent No. 638, 920 on December 12, 1899 for an improved golf tee. George Grant was also recognized internationally for his invention of the oblate palate, a prosthetic device he designed for treatment of the cleft palate.

Famous Inventors • Robert F. Fleming Jr. • Robert F. Flemming, Jr. (Black) invented the Guitar. Robert Flemming Jr. is best known for inventing the guitar. Growing tired of the same musical sound of that time period, Flemming Jr. developed the popular instrument on March 3, 1886. Other than the fact that he was an African American male from Mississippi, all other peripheral details about Robert Flemming Jr. 's life are a mystery.

Famous Inventors • Lydia O. Newman • Lyda D. Newman was an American inventor. She invented a hairbrush that was able to be taken apart in order to be easily cleaned. She was granted her patent on November 15, 1898. It was patent U. S. Patent 614, 335.

Famous Inventors • Alfred L. Cralle • He invented a mechanical device that kept the ice cream from sticking. His ice cream mold or disher, could be used with one hand. It was strong, inexpensive, and it could be shaped like a cone or a mound.

Famous Inventors • Albert C. Richardson • His invention allowed insects to be destroyed on plants and trees without injuring the shoots or foliage. Richardson received patents for several other completely unrelated inventions. He received patent numbers 255, 022 March 14, 1882 for a hame fastner, 446, 470 February 17, 1891 for a butter churn, 529, 311 November 13, 1894 for a casket lowering device, and 638, 811 December 12, 1899 for an improvement on the design of the bottle.

Famous Inventors • Sarah Boone was an African American inventor who on April 26, 1892, obtained United States patent rights for her improvements to the ironing board.

Famous Inventors • Fredrick J. Loudin • Frederick J. Loudin invented the modern day keychain. Key rings subsequently came into use in the 1800 s. Keys were often attached to a ring and placed in a hidden pocket. The keychain was then hooked to another part of a person’s attire. This made it difficult for pickpockets, who were quite prevalent in large cities, to easily liberate keys and other valuables from a citizen.

Famous Inventors • Michael C. Harvey was an African American inventor. In 1884 he improved a type of lantern. The original lantern is now on display at the Black History Museum.

Famous Inventors • John H. Smith • What would life be like if gardeners had to drag long hoses across enormous lawns and sit for hours to make sure the grass was evenly watered? Thanks to African American scientist and inventor, Joseph H. Smith, most people do not have to do that. On May 4, 1897, Smith patented the lawn sprinkler, and later patented an improvement of the original design.

Famous Inventors • John Thomas White • African American inventor John Thomas White of New York, New York received a patent for an improved lemon squeezer on December 8, 1896

Famous Inventors • Washington A. Martin • W. A. Martin, African American inventor, patented the lock (July 21, 1889). This was an improvement over the 4000 -year-old bolt invented by the Chinese. Martin's lock consisted of a cylinder and spiral spring, coiled around a metal pin.

Famous Inventors • Elijah Mc. Coy • In 1872 he developed a “lubricating cup” that could automatically drip oil when and where needed. He received a patent for the device later that year. The “lubricating cup” met with enormous success and orders for it came in from railroad companies all over the country. Other inventors attempted to sell their own versions of the device but most companies wanted the authentic device, requesting “the Real Mc. Coy. ”

Famous Inventors • James Robinson • James invented the 1887 lunch pail.

Famous Inventors • Paul L. Downing • In 1891, anyone interested in mailing a letterwould have to make the long trip to the post office. Philip B. Downing designed a metal box with four legs which he patented on October 27, 1891. He called his device a street letter box and it is the predecessor of today’s mailbox.

Famous Inventors • Thomas W. Stewart • Thomas Stewart had invented a clamping mop that could wring the water out of itself by the use of a lever.

Famous Inventors • George W. Carver • By separating the fats, oils, gums, resins and sugars, he went on to find many uses for the peanut. In fact, he developed more than 300 new uses for the humble legume. Food products ranged from peanut lemon punch, chili sauce, caramel, peanut sausage, mayonnaise and coffee. Cosmetics included face powder, shampoo, shaving cream and hand lotion. Insecticides, glue, charcoal, rubber, nitroglycerine, plastics and axle grease are just a few of the many valuable peanut products discovered by Dr. Carver.

Famous Inventors • John L. Love • In John Lee Love's invention the pencil is put into the opening of the sharpener and rotated by hand.

Famous Inventors • Joseph H. Dickinson • Joseph Dickinson (also spelt Joseph Hunter Dickinson) of Cranford, New Jersey invented several improvements to different musical instruments. In particular, Joseph Dickinson invented an improvement to player pianos (patent below) that provided better actuation - the loudness or softness of the key strikes; and could play the sheet music from any point in the song.

Famous Inventors • John W. Reed • J. W. Reed invented the rolling pin with handles connected to a center rod; this is similar to the tool we know today, and it prevents cooks from putting their hands on the rolling surface while shaping pastry. Reed invented new versions of the dough kneader and dough roller; his contributions are notable, not only because he eased the cook's tasks, but also because Reed was one of many African-Americans who developed and patented improvements to household items.

Famous Inventors • Charles Orren Bailiff • His invention was to support clients neck area while their hair was being washed.

Famous Inventors • Edmond Berger • Some historians have reported that Edmond Berger invented an early spark plug on February 2, 1839. However, Edmond Berger did not patent his invention. Spark plugs are used in internal combustion engines and in 1839 these engines were in the early days of experimentation. Therefore, Edmund Berger's spark plug if it did exist would have had to have been very experimental in nature as well or perhaps the date was a mistake.

Famous Inventors • Madam C. J. Walker • Was an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the first female self-made millionaire in America.

Famous Inventors • Charles B. Brooks • Charles Brooks of Newark, New Jersey invented improvements to street sweeper trucks that he patented on March 17, 1896. His truck had revolving brushes attached to the front fender and the brushes were interchangeable with scrapers that could be used in winter for snow removal. Charles Brook also designed an improved refuse receptacle for storing the collected garbage and litter and a wheel drive for the automatic turning of the brushes and for powering a lifting mechanism for the scrapers.

Famous Inventors • Matthew A. Cherry • Matthew Cherry developed two devices that would one day evolve into very useful items for transportation. The first device was called a velocipede and consisted of a metal frame upon which were attached two or three wheels. Someone sitting on the seat of the apparatus could propel themselves forward at considerable speeds by moving their feet along the ground in a fast walking or running motion.

Arts and Literature • Provide examples of art and literature that are significant to Black History Month

How We Celebrate • List some ways we celebrate Black History Month around the nation

Conclusion • Provide a brief summary of your presentation

Questions & Answers • Invite questions from the audience

Resources • List the resources you used for your research