This post covers the celebration of Black History Month, 2021 and will feature a selection of Inventors, Medical Achievements and Scientists. It will be updated daily and will link to all posts this month, so bookmark or save it and check it out every day. Normallly we post weekly.
Share the great information with teachers, students and anyone interested in learning about a significant part of our American citizens who have been largely overlooked in the pages of history.
Day 1, We feature Raye Montague a Navy Hidden Figure. As you read about this amazing lady, ask the question “Why is this lady not known?”.
She comes to light after Margot Lee Shetterly wrote about neighbors that she had grown up with and publicized in the book and movie “Hidden Figures”
By using this link y ou can share the entire month or select a single link. Also, if you miss one you can always catch up. Please share this link.
Read about Raye Montague by clicking Raye Montague
Answer the question, why have I never heard of her and check this link for our next post tomorrow.
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Day 2
Comments – Black History 2021
We are in the midst of a pandemic, over26 million cases, over 445,000 deaths. People who are not familiar with the Tuskegee experiment where the Federal Government told 100’s of Blacks they were treating them from syphilis yet withheld treatment for decades while they studied the deadly consequences of the disease. Watching the subjects die has left a bad taste in the mouth of those people affected. James Marion Sims who performed surgery on Blacks without the benefit of anesthesia because he claimed they did not feel pain. Eugenics where the government sterilized women without their consent. The list goes on …
Now faced with a pandemic and the lying of the government, many are skeptical of the vaccine. Here is the story of Dr Kizzmekia Corbett one of the developers of the Moderna Vaccine. I have had my 1st shot. Look and see the advances being made in medicine by this amazing Black Doctor. For your second day of Amazing Black History 2021 click here
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Day 3
If you have used a cell phone, computer or television, the odds are that you have used a device that owes a lot to the technology developed by Dr James E West. A prolific inventor and in the Inventor’s Hall of Fame. We come to recognize that Black History Month is indeed a month long celebration. Here at Amazing Black History, we feel it is a years long celebration and post weekly. You will want to explore the amazing story of Dr James E West here.
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Day 4
February 4, 2021. We showcase one of the many inventors that for all intent and purpose have remained unknown. The invention here has remained largely unchanged for nearly a century. It is one that we see regularly and give so little thought to because it works as intended. In days past, it was necessary to physically go to the post office to mail a letter. This was highly inconvenient, so Downing invented the Street Mailbox which we often standing on 4 legs .This allowed a letter to be mailed without going inside the post office. It was secure and protected the mail in inclement weather. While best known for this invention, it was not his only patent. We look at Phillip B Downing.
Day 5
February 5, 2021, we showcase a man who has mad life sweeter. Norbert Rillieux had a father who was able to afford the best education possible for his son. Educated in France, Rillieux developed the process of refining sugar that we enjoy today. That morning beverage, our carbonated drinks, the many desserts we enjoy, are the result of his engineering background. Today we look at the life and accomplishment of Norbert Rillieux and how he sweetened our lives.
Day 6
Dr Daniel Hale Williams worked in a time that is hard for some to imagine. Many hospitals would not treat Blacks. Ambulances dispatched to horrific accidents may refuse to even transport Blacks. Training facilities were little to none. Yes, there were some, but it was a difficult process. Therefore, Provident Hospital was a terrific achievement. This in addition to the pioneering surgery should have propelled him into the spotlight but many still do not know him. Those of you who have a passion for what ever the subject, can use this as inspiration to make your mark in your own field. Never give up! Here is the post on Dr Daniel Hale Williams
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Day 7
Today February 7, we take a look at a man who has changed the world with his research. He is responsible for saving countless lives not only in America, but around the world. It is impossible to count because there are lives being added to the tole as you are reading this post. We are featuring the inventor of the blood bank. Many have given and many have received. The current pandemic has relied on his research. Today we feature the life of Dr Charles Drew
Day 8
Today, February 8, we reflect back on an expression “I want the real McCoy” it came because Elijah McCoy developed a device to lubricate moving parts on trains, ships and other heavy equipment. Others tried to duplicate the device and quality that he was able to build into each and every part. Sounds great, but few have any idea that Elijah McCoy was a Black man. The focus of our post today is that story and that man Elijah McCoy.
Day 9
We are able to enjoy fruits and vegetables that were raised a long distance away, even when they are out of season locally because we can keep them cool, even frozen. This also affects many of our medications and other items that require cool. We can do this without depending on ice because of the invention of refrigerated trucks and railroad cars by Frederick McKinley Jones, featured in today’s post. Frederick McKinley Jones.
Day 10
As we explore the life and discoveries of Garrett Morgan, we see a man who has made tremendous improvements in our entire society. He has developed products that are used around the world. A man who made a significant impact on the safety of all of us. It does not require a degree to be innovative. It requires a desire, an imagination, access to information and the willingness to pursue your dream. Invention is being able to recognize a problem and come up with a solution and make it happen! The feature post for Day 10 is Garrett Morgan.
Day 11
George Washington Carver is one of the most mentioned people when it comes to Black History Month, but we are a long way from knowing the story of the man and his work. We are told he invented peanut butter, but that is not true. While he discovered many products made from peanuts, he himself says his best work was NOT done with the peanut. It is time that we look deeper into this amazing man and realize the extent of his work. The focus of today is George Washington Carver.
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Day 12
Dr Gladys West is another of the great mathematicians hidden from history for some unknown reason. Her contributions to science is one that most of use and use it daily. She developed the GPS system that is so popular and in use around the world. It is helping archaeologists find ancient sites that provide clues to their civilization It allows us to go to distant places and locate anything of interest. A worthy development indeed. We salute Dr Gladys West.
Day 13
The focus of this post is on a man so talented that the law had to be changed to avoid him being re-enslaved. Not many are aware that most states had laws that a slave freed had 1 year to get out of the state or risk being re-enslaved. This man was so talented that he was commissioned to build bridges in the South. Even reconstruct a state capitol after a devastating fire. That man is the King of bridge building in the Chattahoochee River Valley. That person is Horace King today’s feature.
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Day 14
The focus of today’s post is a man who invented such a complicated machine that the patent office did not believe it would work based on the drawings. However, it was proven to work and drastically changed the way shoes were made, making them more affordable, a benefit we enjoy today. Up to this time, shoes were made completely by hand, but a machine to attach the top to the sole proved valuable and changed the availability of shoes to the ordinary person. That person, Jan Matzeliger is the focus of today’s post.
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Day 15
Today’s feature post covers a man so talented that he was selected as the architect of a prestigious university. He designed many magnificent structures that delight us today. Yet because of the ugly side of racism, it is 37 years before people of his race are admitted to this institution. This man walked to work because racism would have forced him to sit in the back of the bus. You may have questions as to which backward country this could take place in. The Answer is America. That man is the focus of today’s post, Julian Abele the architect of the West campus of Duke University.
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Day 16
The feature post today features a well-known hero, but without the writing off Margot Lee Shetterly, she like so many other great people would be unknown. Shetterly wrote about people she knew because they worked with her father who worked at Langley Space Center. When we think of science, we think of males, mostly White men, but as you are seeing on the posts, women, in this case Black women have made many things possible. Today’s post features women known as human computers, capable of the most difficult tasks imaginable. These are the real rocket scientists, featured in the book and movie “Hidden Figures”. Today’s feature is one of these women, Katherine Johnson!
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day 17
The focus of today’s post is a great cardiac (heart) surgeon. He has done research and work that has resulted in the saving of countless lives, as the work is still being practiced today. Among other work, he is the first surgeon to implant a defalcator in a human patient. A procedure that is still being used today. It is impossible to imagine the progress if every person had the ability to exercise their talents without the racists practices that deny so many. Benefits that are available to all people. That person is Dr Levi Watkins todays feature post.
Day 18
Today the feature is a man so talented that he worked for Thomas Edison and Alexander Bell. A person who sued Edison and won. He made greater improvement to the light bulb than you can imagine, yet we don’t know his name. He was so talented that both men used him to draft the patents that made them famous. This man is amazing and the feature of the day, Louis Howard Latimer.
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Day 19
Today, we see skills possessed by a Black man. Where did these skills come from? When we consider the quote of Fawn Weaver, we see some great possibilities. “When something just drops out of the sky, there is a good chance it came from Africa. This seems to be the case, but we also see a man charged with the running of the entire facility which is the job of the Master Distiller. We also see a successful operation here people of all races ere paid the same, based on the job they held. A very novel idea at the time and one that should be expanded today. We now focus on the Master Distiller, Nathan “Nearest” Green.
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Day 20
The focus of today’s post is another amazing woman. She developed the process that greatly simplified the removal of cataracts. This device and the procedure have made the operation less risk, quick and effective. I have benefited from her work and odds are that you know someone who has also benefited. Today the focus is on Dr Patricia Bath, inventor of the phaco-laser probe.
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Day 21
The focus of today’s post is a person who changed the world of chemistry and medicine with fantastic discoveries. We also see a person who had to overcome challenges on the way. Having to learn and study in a foreign country. A person who had to stand against violence perpetrated on the family yet persisted. People of all races around the world benefitted. Leaves you wondering how anyone could impede the progress of someone when everybody benefits from the discoveries. The person and our focus of today is Percy Julius.
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Day 22
Today’s post features a woman who was continually discouraged from entering the medical profession. Receiving poor grades in math, an investigation revealed that the teacher was giving her math scores to a White student. This was discovered when she was given a test in math and aced it. Even in the field of medicine, she was discouraged from her eventual specialty Pediatric Neurosurgery. Despite this, she not only entered the profession, she excelled and is the focus of todays Post. Meet Dr Alexa Canady, Doctor of Pediatric Neurosurgery.
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Day 23
Most people are unaware that there was at one time a Black owned automobile manufacturer, but then they don’t get their information from amazingblackhistory.com like you do 😊. That is a reason to share the information you get here! CR Patterson manufactured a high quality automobile and competed with the giant in the industry. That is the feature post today, the CR Patterson and Sons Automobile Manufacturers.
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Day 24
Necessity is the mother of invention. Faced with a problem of slow police response and the need for security, Marie Van Britten Brown invented the home security system with controls that could send a view of the various doors, even remotely unlock doors and most importantly summon police help. These devices are in great demand today, but we owe a debt of gratitude to todays focus Marie Van Britten Brown.
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Day 25
The focus of today’s post is a pioneer in the fields of aerospace and semiconductor devices as well as a noted academic and administrator. He is noted in these fields. He joined NASA in 1979 and invented the X-ray spectrometer which had a wide range of applications including information on remote solar systems and other space objects. This is a long way from the picking of cotton which most people think all Blacks did. Dispel the notion and take a look at the renown Dr George Alcon, focus of today’s post.
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Day 26
Dr Mark Dean is not exactly a household name, but he is a dynamic force in the development and improvement of our personal computers which are almost universally used. Of the 9 patents that International Business Machines (IBM) used in the first personal computer, Dr Dean holds 3 of them. The focus of today’s post is Dr Mark Dean
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Day 27
We see in the post on Mary W Jackson that many talented people succeed because they found a way to use their talents. It takes more than just being talented to succeed, it takes opportunity. Many talented students are not willing to challenge themselves and take on the larger tasks. This you do at your own peril. We also see that so many other occupations and skills come forth and show their importance. It takes more than science to lead the world. Follow your passions! Today’s feature is on Mary W Jackson – Hidden Hero!
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Day 28
As the pandemic rages, we take a look at the person who brought the idea of vaccination to America. About 1716 Cotton Mather was asking Onesimus a slave if he had had smallpox and he described the method that we know as vaccination. It was used in the smallpox epidemic in Boston in 1721 and had amazing results. The focus of day 28 is this knowledgeable African slave Onesimus.
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