Pt. 2 Garrett Morgan - Saving lives one invention at time. #BlackHistory

Part 2! of Garrett Morgan! Garrett was the born to former slaves on March 4, 1877 in Kentucky. Please check out Part 1 of Garrett Morgan to find more about his other inventions.

While driving, Garrett witnessed a terrible car accident. After, Garrett replayed the situation in his mind and realized that the roads were dangerous. Garrett felt it was necessary to improve the current conditions... He came up with an invention that would be beyond beneficial. Garrett Morgan invented the automatic stop light. 

Although manually operated traffic signals existed at most major intersections, they were not as effective because they switched back and forth to either 'stop' or 'go'. 

Can you imagine the chaos they could cause. A light to say GO (Green Light)... and suddenly a light to say STOP (Red Light)! Garrett Morgan took it upon himself to create a warning light, better known as the Yellow Light! 

Check out his patent below! 

This was a live saving idea/invention! Garrett went on to sell his patent to General Electric for $ 40,000! 

Thank you Garrett Morgan for all that you've done!

photo source

Nancy Green aka Aunt Jemima - #BlackHistoryFact

Miss Green was born into slavery in 1834.  Nancy Green was a storyteller, cook, and one of the first black corporate models in the United States.  Green was hired by the R.T. Davis Milling Company to represent "Aunt Jemima".  Aunt Jemima was named after a song from a minstrel show that the owner of the R.T. Davis Milling Company attended and would resemble a mammy archetype.  Green became the world's first living trademark.  In 1893 the R.T. Davis Milling Company began an aggressive campaign that began with having Green demonstrate the pancake mix at an exposition in Chicago.  Green's cooking skills and warm personality made her a hit at the exposition. She was the ideal "Aunt Jemima" and proclaimed the "Pancake Queen".  Special policemen were assigned to her booth to keep the crowd moving. Green went on to tour the world promoting this pancake mix. Green signed a lifetime contract with R.T. Davis Milling Company and held her job until her death in 1923.  

Green was one of the organizers of the Olivet Baptist Church in Chicago.  Her career as "Aunt Jemima" allowed the financial freedom to become an activist and engage in antipoverty programs. 



With Green's help, flour sales soured during this period and people stopped looking at pancakes as just breakfast food. 

America the Story of Us: Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass, a former slave and eminent human rights leader in the abolition movement, was the first black citizen to hold a high U.S. government rank. He became one of the most famous intellectuals of his time. Douglass writings include several autobiographies where he details his experiences in slavery and life after the Civil War. Douglass served as a recruiter for African American troops during the war. He also advised President Lincoln on at least two occasions. For 16 years he edited an influential black newspaper and achieved international fame as an inspiring and persuasive speaker and writer.

Below is a short documentary on Frederick Douglass entitled "America the Story of Us: Frederick Douglass".
 
After the Civil War, Frederick Douglass fought for the rights of women and African Americans alike.

Jumping the Broom - Black History

A tradition celebrated by many African-American couples that dates back to the 19th century (some believe that it may date back as far as the 17th century).

In many African-American wedding ceremonies, the marrying couple will jump over a broomstick to symbolize their union. During the times of slavery, unions between African-American slaves were not recognized and formal marriages were not permitted.  In the absence of formal ceremonies, jumping the broom became the open declaration for a marriage-like union.  Jumping the broom was always done before witnesses as a public announcement to other members of the slave community that a couple had joined in union.

Other ethnic groups also celebrate traditions similar to jumping the broom.

Pt. 1 Garrett Morgan - Saving lives one invention at time. #BlackHistory

Garrett Morgan was born to former slaves on March 4, 1877 in Kentucky. At an early age Garrett set out to find opportunity for a better life. Garrett found work as a sewing machine repair man and was known for fixing things. Through the years he saved up enough money to start his own sewing machine equipment-repair business. Garrett invented the zig-zag stitching attachment for manually operated sewing machines, established a tailoring business as well as personal grooming business (which is responsible for creating the curved tooth pressing comb and black oil air hair dye). Garrett’s creative thinking allowed him to employ over a dozen employees and was a great business leader who overcame many obstacles and all with a 6th grade education.

Newsboys for the Cleveland Call & Post

Garrett later on went to work with a team of people to establish a newspaper called the Cleveland Call & Post, which served the black community in Cleveland. BUT what changed the game for Garrett was his invention of the safety hood better known as the gas mask.

There was an terrible explosion in an underground tunnel beneath Lake Erie. Not only did Garret go in with a team of volunteers to rescue the victims but they also used his new gas mask. Garret invented a gas mask that would be used by many fire departments and during WWI. Garrett’s mask was known as the Morgan Gas Mask/Safety Hood. Garrett Morgan invented the Safety Hood and Smoke Protector and later refined his early gas mask. He won a medal at the International Exposition of Sanitation and Safety, and another medal from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

 

Stay tuned to Part 2 of Garrett Morgan’s invention... saving one life at a time.

 photo source: Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, The Western Reserve Historical Society

Hip Hop - #BlackHistoryFact

Hip Hop is a culture that was created during the 1970s by blacks and latinos residing in the South Bronx area in New York. Hip Hop is comprised of four distinct parts: rap music, turntablism/DJing, b-boying/break-dancing and graffiti. 

Rap music can be broken down into different components, such as "content", "flow" (rhythm and rhyme), and "delivery".  Although rhyming is a key component of rap music, rap differs from poetry in that it is delivered and timed with the beat of the music. Graffiti is considered the visual expression of hip hop.  B-boying or break dancing is considered the physical expression of hip hop culture.   DJing is not only the ability to play  music but you must be a skilled turntablist. DJing is the technique of manipulating sounds to create music using turntables and a mixer. 

The four Elements of Hip Hop

Hip Hop culture has spread to both urban and suburban communities throughout the world.

Shirley Chisholm - 1st African American woman elected to the House of Representatives

Shirley Chisholm...have you heard of her?  If not let's provide some great facts about this visionary.  In 1968 Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives.  Shirley represented the state of New York.  During Shirley's 2nd term in the House, she decided to run for the US Presidency.  She became the 1st black woman to run for president!  Although she did not win Shirley was determined to make a change.

Shirley served 14 years in Congress and she will always be an inspiration to many.  She retired in 1982 but her work was not done.  Chisolm continued to teach and educate the masses.  She co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women.  Unbossed and Unbought was a well know quote and she lived her life just that way.  Thank you Shirley Chisolm. 

Check out her book Unbought and Unbossed. 

Click here to read more about Shirley Chisolm check out this site 

picture source