African Americans who made a DIFFERENCE... and have gone OVERLOOKED.

In honor of Black History month I've decided to kick EbonyChronicles back off with an article about the black people who have made ANY SORT of significant difference that has gone overlooked. So NO, this article will not be about Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcome X, or Rosa Parks; but it will be about our forgotten brothers and sister who have created a change for America.

Blood Bank- Dr. Charles Richard Drew ( 1904-1950): Dr. Richard Drew was a medical doctor and surgeon who created the idea for a blood bank and a way to store blood plasma for the long-term. When America went to war in 1941, Dr. Drew was named Director of the Blood Bank for the National Research Counsel, which collected blood for the US Navy and Army and also setting groundwork for Red Cross. The storage of blood in plasma for was groundbreaking and has saved many lives since Drew brought the process forward in the 1930's.


The SuperSoaker- Lonnie G. Johnson (1949- present): After a succesful career in the Air Force and being a Nasa scientist, Johnson created his most famous invention in 1982 after conducting an experiment at home on a heat pump that used water instead of Freon, resulting in his home made nozzle shooting water across the room. Along with his partner, Bruce D'Andrade, they created a workable prototype of the Supersoaker and filed for a joint patent in 1991. The SuperSoaker was the worlds first pressurized, high performance water gun and became the number one selling toy in the country with more than over 200 million dollars in sales. Overall Johnson has earned over 80 patents with 20 more pending and he continues to invent in the area of thermo and fluid dynamics, as well as toys.


Train-to-Station Communication System- Granville T. Woods ( 1856-1910): Woods began working a the early age of 10 in a machine shop nd studied alectrical and mechanical engineering from 1876-1878. He recieved his first patent in 1884 for a Steam Boiler Furnace. In 1885 he created a system called telegraphony, which allowed telegraph lines to carry voice signals. In 1887 he patented the induction telegraph for sending messages to and from moving trains. Im 1890, with his brother Lyates, he also patented emergency braking systems and devices relating to third-rail power.


Shoelasting Machine- Jan Ernst Matzeliger ( 1852-1889): A vet in the shoe factory where he operated a sole-sewing machine, Jan was responsible for attaching different parts of a shoe together. At that time there were no machines that could attach the upper part of a shoe to the sole, so it had to be done by hand. "Hand Lasters" were able to only produce about 50 pairs of shoes a day. In 1882 Matzeliger was able to perfect a shoe-lasting machine that could produce 150-700 pairs of shoes a day. By 1889 the demand for shoe lasting machines was so high that The Consolidated Lasting Machine Co. was formed, where Jan was given huge blocks of stock for his invention. His machine revolutioned the entire shoe industry, not only in America, but around the world.


Peanut Butter and over 300 other products made from peanuts- George Washington Carver (1860-1943): Born a slave, Carver later went on the earn his Masters degree from Iowa Agricultural College. He was later assigned to be the Director of Agricultural Reseach at Tuskegee Institute by Booker T. Washington. Carver delveloped many products from peanuts like his most famous, peanut butter and also peanut oil but not only did he develope pruducts from peanuts but also from sweet potatoes, soy beans, and pecans.

First African American Doctor-Edward Alexander Bouchet ( 1852-1918): Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Bouchet was the first African American to graduate from Yale University. I 1876, upon receiving a PH.D in physics from Yale, he became the first African American to obtain a Doctorates Degree, thus the first African American doctor in America.

First Successful Open Heart Surgery- Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856-1931): Williams was born in Pennsylvania and attended medical school in Chicago, where he received his M.D. in 1883. He founded the Provident Hospital in Chicago in 1891, and he performed the first successful open heart surgery in 1893.

Second African American woman to graduate from Medical School- Rebecca Cole (1846-1922): Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cole was the second black woman to graduate from medical school (1867). She joined Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first white woman physician, in New York and taught hygiene and childcare to families in poor neighborhoods.   


Hair Care System and Beauty Products- Madame C.J Walker (1867-1919): Widowed at 20, Louisiana-born Sarah Breedlove Walker supported herself and her daughter as a washerwoman. In the early 1900s she developed a hair care system and other beauty products. Her business, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, amassed a fortune, and she became a generous patron of many black charities.

Laserphoco Probe- Patricia Bath (1942-Present): Born in Harlem, New York, Bath holds a bachelor's degree from Hunter College and an M.D. from Howard University. She is a co-founder of the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness. Bath is best known for her invention of the Laserphaco Probe for the treatment of cataracts.


This here is just grazing the surface of the many notably successful African American people who have risen above and beyond in our country, that have came before us and have paved the way for us to be where we are now. Although things still are not where they should be, if it weren't for the people listed here, and many more, not letting their circumstances hold them back who knows how far set back we would still be as a race in this country now.

MzBwnSkn

Ebony Chronicles Returns starting 02.01.12

I've been MIA for some months now due to difficulties with my laptop. It cuts off randomly and I can't have that happening in the middle of me writing and article. I'll be replacing the laptop i have now with a new one within this month so to give myself some time to build up some articles I'll be back starting the first of February.

MzBwnSkn

Troy Davis... our Unfair "justice" System

     For a while now I have been receiving emails from the NAACP board regarding Troy Davis and his case. People for quite some years now have been trying to help fight for this mans life and yesterday it all went in vain. Troy Davis was executed last night and many people are up in arms about this, as am I, so I guess I'm just coming to vent a little and also just to give my viewpoint.

     When I first started getting emails about this man I never paid much attention to them because I get a lot of random emails from different websites but once I actually read into what it was about a feeling close to dread came over me. Yet, another black man being falsely accused of a crime he did not do. Now OF COURSE no one will ever know for sure know whether he did it or not, the man is dead now, but there was just too much evidence showing that he did not do the crime he was accused of; murdering a police officer. When 7 of 9 "eye" witnesses recant their statements, you know that something is just not right about the situation. Our justice system is supposed to be fair and you are not to condemn a man if their is a shadow of doubt, and there was obvious doubt regarding Troy Davis' case.

     This just goes to show, once again, how unfair our justice system is. There was nothing justifiable about killing this man and pinning a crime on him that he seemingly did not do. How can a woman like Casey Anthony, who obviously killed her baby, walk free and a man like Troy Davis, who had a good amount of evidence on his end to prove that he did not do the crime, get executed? Where the hell is justice in that? The ridiculousness of these two comparisons is just mind boggling to me but not shocking. Troy is a black man and Casey is a white woman, that's all you need to know to know why one walked free and one was murdered.

Not too long back a young white male, who went to an ivy league college was caught selling cocaine and got only about 3 months or so in jail. Not too long before that, a black male who was on his third strike got LIFE in prison for having weed in his home. Now, regardless of the fact that he had three strikes against him, how in the hell did he get life for weed but the white boy got 3 months for cocaine. COCAINE. He should have at least got three fucking years because young black men on their first strike would get that much for the same thing, not 3 damn months. The racism within our government and justice system is just fucked up when you take a step back and really look at the shit that goes on and that's really what Mr. Davis' case comes down to. Racism.

     People, especially white, always look at me crazy when I say that racism is what a lot of injustice comes down to but that's the truth and nothing but the truth. Comparison cases like Troy's and Casey's show that CLEARLY. There is no reason that this woman should have walked away free, no reason. There is no reason why Troy's case should not have been appealed. The whole set up of anything having to do with the government is fucked up and unfair but this is not the first and it won't be the last. Many more injustices like this are yet to come, especially to black folks. Black men and women having been dealing with this for centuries now, this is nothing new, but it is still terrible to witness and I personally will never become numb to hearing, seeing, or reading about how fucked up a nation of people can be.

     My prayers go out to the Davis family. I know that this has been a long and hard journey for them but I've read that Troy was a man of God, so he is in a better place. No longer will he have to live knowing that death is nearing because I'm sure he's known for a while now that they would never let him go.

     This was mainly just a vent for me right now because I've been overwhelmed all day thinking about his case and others.

MzBwnSkn

Are Black Student's in Honors Classes?

So, I'm attending college now and Monday was the first day of classes for me but I do not have all my classes everyday. On Tuesdays I have an Honors Banned Books and Censorship class, that I had to take because I am in the Honors Program and you must take at least one honors class to obtain your scholarship. Walking into the class I was already prepared for what I saw. A sea full of white faces with a sprinkle of Mexicans. No blacks. I am the only black student in this class. Now granted it could just be because the class seems like it's going to be the lamest shit in history but in a school with a good amount of black students I should not have been the only one in that class.


This made me realize that black students really DO NOT apply themselves the way they should. Once this came to my attention, I started reminiscing about how I was normally only one of maybe 2 or 3 black students in my honors and AP classes in high school also. All throughout my life, I've been in accelerated classes and have always been the only or one of a couple black students in the classes.


Quick Story: One time, in my high school Spanish class, we had an old white male substitute. I was sitting near a couple of other black girls, we were all working quietly and this man comes up to us and says "Wow, I've never seen black people work so hard... I'd like to thank you." -,- He really said this to us... and what's fucked up is he really meant it as a compliment. I could see that he was being genuine, so I chalked it up to him being old and white and didn't call him out on it.


What is up with that? Why do people see black people as underachievers and why do we SEE OURSELVES that way. Why aren't black students striving to be overachievers? It seems all that black students are interested in is partying, chillin' and just having fun. College is about the whole experience but the MAIN reason we go is to be educated... or else why the fuck are you paying 19,000 dollars to party? You can do that shit for free. I'm tired of being the one of the few black students in honors classes. It's discouraging. My black people, we need to get grounded and realize what is important in life and that's NOT partying, smoking, drinking, trying to look cool and all that other unnecessary shit. Education is the key to living a comfortable life... there's very few ways to be successful without a college education and while school is not for everyone and is not the only way to make it, having a college education makes most situations much easier.


Now, to bring this back to honors programs and classes; YES more and more black students are attending college but they are NOT applying themselves as they should. WHY AREN'T Y'ALLS BLACK ASSES IN THE HONORS CLASSES?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Black people NEED TO REALIZE that we MUST be the best to get half of what mediocre white people get. We MUST be the best to get that 6 figure salary job a year, we MUST be the best the get that raise over our white co-workers, we MUST be the best to get that higher ranking position at the office, WE MUST BE THE BEST... but that all starts with your CREDENTIALS. How you do in college and how you apply yourself is also a factor in whether people employ you or not. You think if you passed all your classes with C's and mainly D's but you graduated, that someone will want to higher you? YOU MUST APPLY YOURSELF and aim to be the best because in this world you must be.


MzBwnSkn

Movie Review: The Help

Taking place in the 1960s South, a young woman comes back to her home town, after college, where she's the black sheep because she has no man and want's to become a big time writer in New York. For the time being she settles for a columnist advice writing job for the local paper. Just like most white children of this time, she was raised by her black maid and she decides that she want's to write a book from the persepective of "The Help." Reluctantly black women jump on board for the idea but everything must be done in secret because it is against the law and their jobs, even their very lives, are at jeopardy for telling all the white folks' bussiness.

Overall this is was a very great film. The acting was greatly done by all parts. The black maids made you feel their pain and the white racist fold made you hate them. This is one of those films where black people will walk out hating every damn white person in the universe, I know I did, but then you come back down to life lol. I give this film 5 out of 5 stars because the acting was superb and the film did what it was meant todo; get a reaction out of the viewers and make you think.

This movie was actually based off of the book version, which I haven't read, but the film was so good that I'm sure the book was even better. Most times, it is. So, if you love to read, there is a book that came prior to this film. I'm sure it'll be a great read because this was a great film.

MzBwnSkn



Acting White???

All my life I've heard some variation of this directed towards me. My father had told me I "talk like a white girl." People I barely know have said I "act white" because I'm quiet when you first meet me. A guy once told me that I was a black-white girl because I said I didn't live in the ghetto and I know I was better than him, not all people, just him specifically. Let's think about it though, what exactly is exacting white?


Do people think this about me because, for the most part, I speak "clear" English? Meaning, you can understand every damn word that comes out of my mouth. Do people think this because I tend to speak "proper" instead of every other word that comes out of my mouth being some type of slang? Do people think this because I don't run around acting like a fucking fool, yelling at the top of my lungs, or acting "ghetto", with people I don't know? Do people think this because I don't live in the ghetto, never have lived in any "real" ghettos and don't pretend like I have?


I remember a friend of mine told I eat like white people do because I don't mix my spaghetti and the meat sauce all together, I eat it like you do in the resturants when you put the noodles on the plate first and then put the sauce on top. She told me I was ACTING WHITE because of that. Seriously, the way I eat spaghetti makes me more "white."


So there's a "nigga" way of eating now? I have to mix the spaghetti noodles and sauce together to be more black? This acting white shit has really gotten out of hand.


Now let's be completely real, there are things that white people do and black people; things that people of every race are more know for doing. Mexicans eat beans, Black people eat fried chicken, White people eat green bean casserole, blah blah blah BUT why does speaking proper have to be a white thing, or why should acting like you've got some home training be a white thing... why does THE WAY you eat spaghetti have to be a fucking white thing?


Black people need to get out of this "if your not acting ghetto" then your "acting white" bullshit. Most black people won't just come straight out and say this is what they mean when they say someone is "acting white", most may not even realize it, but this is in general the thought process behind this phrase. People everywhere associate being ghetto with being black and the opposite with being white. That shit is fucked up though and black people should not be accepting that. Yet, black people are the main culprits in accusing other black folks of "acting white."


Now, if I see a black girl who only dates white guys, talks like a "valley girl", dresses like them white preppy chicks do, has her hair permed with a long straight weave in, works at Hollister or Abercrombi and Fitch, wears bright pink lipstick that she know's she's too dark for and only has white friends in general; yea I'ma say she "thinks/wishes she's white" or she's acting "white" because in that sense she probably does wish she were white and yes she is "acting white." Regardless of how your raised or who your raised around black people will always know the difference in behavior they have with white people and if a black girl is acting this stereotypically "white" then it is damn sure safe to say she's acting white BUT what I won't say she's acting white for is if she speaks proper. I won't say she's acting white if she doesn't live in the ghetto and is proud of that. I won't say she's white because of the way she eats spaghetti.


Everything NON-GHETTO isn't acting white. Now, let me say this before I offend anyone further. I am not saying there is anything wrong with being from the ghetto. Shit, you can't help where you come from but there is a problem with acting like the stereotypical nigga/bitch who's from the ghetto. There is a problem when you associate anything non-ghetto with being white.


Back to myself, I don't view myself as "ghetto." Do I do nigga shit, yea, but am I ghetto? No. I'm tired of feeling like I have to prove my blackness to other black folk. My SKIN COLOR should be enough right there. No matter how I talk, eat, interact with people; I am still going to be BLACK. That will never change. Why should anyone have to act like a fool to be "black enough" and yes the way people view others as being black is acting like a fool. I feel I act blacker than most people, bc black to me doesn't mean acting ignorant; it's accepting who you are, being proud of your skin, wanting to help your people and living life knowing that shit is set up to hold you down but pushing past that to have the life you deserve. Those are all things that being black means to me and I'm all that and doing all that. Being black to me isn't about acting like some ghetto ratchet ass hood roach and that's not what being black should be to anybody else, especial black people.


So really, all this "acting white" shit, needs to dull down. I'm not saying to completely stop saying it because I do feel there are times when it is appropriate BUT I am saying stop viewing everything not stereotypically "black" as white. That's just another form of self hate and one more way of keeping us down as a race.


MzBwnSkn

Movie Review: Skin

This movie is based on the true story of a dark skinned girl born in the 1950's to two white South African parents. It goes through her and her family's struggles dealing with her skin tone from youth into adulthood. Without, giving too much away it's a very touching story that I believe everyone should see.

The most interesting thing to witness in this movie is how Sandra's (main character) parent's view her. To them she is completely white because they are her parents, despite her skin tone. The way they treat other black Africans is interesting because in reality their daughter is a black African, yet they are just like the rest of the white South Africans.

I recommend everyone to see this film because it is very touching and will leave you thinking deeply on what it means to be black and how despite what genetics may say or who you come from; if you look black, you are black.