Black History is also America's History (SO RECOGNIZE)!!

Black History is also America's History (SO RECOGNIZE)!!

As may of us know, The month of February is nationally known as "Black History Month". Unfortunately, in our country today many people still go each day without recognizing the many of the contributions, inventions, and developments that African Americans have created to make our world a better place for everyone. After having a recent conversation with my favorite Aunt. We discussed the blantant dismissal of our efforts toward our communities and society as a whole, by other races.

I was reading a local school paper where the students are predominantly White Americans, and the particular articles posed the question "Why is Black History Month Important To African Americans"? My first problem with this question is that, i feel as though the question should have been posed in a manner to inquire as to "Why Black history Month is Important To each of us as an individual"? The second part that bothered me was the fact that many of the students responded so ignorantly saying things such as "It is important to "them", so that they know they did something good for the country"???? "Them"??? Another response was "so, "they" know that they can do anything...

As far as i know many of the African Americans inventors created products, machines, and appliances that the entire world benefits from.

*The idea of a blood bank was pioneered by Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950). Dr. Drew was an American medical doctor and surgeon who started the idea of a blood bank and a system for the long term preservation of blood plasma (he found that plasma kept longer than whole blood).

*CRUM, GEORGEThe potato chip was invented in 1853 by George Crum. Crum was a Native American/African American chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA. French fries were popular at the restaurant and one day a diner complained that the fries were too thick.

*CARVER, GEORGE WASHINGTONGeorge Washington Carver (1865?-1943) was an American scientist, educator, humanitarian, and former slave. Carver developed hundreds of products from peanuts, sweet potatoes, pecans, and soybeans; his discoveries greatly improved the agricultural output and the health of Southern farmers.

*DORTICUS, CLATONIA JOAQUINClatonia Joaquin Dorticus was an African-American inventor who received many patents. He invented an apparatus for applying dyes to the sides of the soles and heels of shoes (patent # 535,820, March 19, 1895), a machine for embossing (contouring the paper of) photographs (patent # 537,442, April 16, 1895), a device that helped develop photographs (patent # 537,968, April 23, 1895), and a leak stopper for hoses (patent # 629,315, July 18, 1899).

*DOWNING, PHILIP B.The street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door that closed to protect the mail was invented by Philip B. Downing. Downing, an African-American inventor, patented his new device on October 27, 1891 (US Patent # 462,096).

*GAS MASKThe gas mask was invented by Garrett Morgan, an African-American inventor. Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, Morgan was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army. For more information on Garrett Morgan, click here.

*GOODE, SARAH S.Sarah E. Goode was a businesswoman and inventor. Goode invented the folding cabinet bed, a space-saver that folded up against the wall into a cabinet. When folded up, it could be used as a desk, complete with compartments for stationery and writing supplies. Goode owned a furniture store in Chicago, Illinois, and invented the bed for people living in small apartments. Goode's patent was the first one obtained by an African-American woman inventor (patent #322,177, approved on July 14, 1885).

*LATIMER, LEWIS H.Lewis Howard Latimer (1848-1928) was an African-American inventor who was a member of Edison's research team, which was called "Edison's Pioneers." Latimer improved the newly-invented incandescent light bulb by inventing a carbon filament (which he patented in 1881).
For more information on Lewis Howard Latimer, click here.

When will people recognize that "Black history" is apart of American History and should not only be respeted by the African Amerians, but by Americans period!