African Inventors? Bueller…. Bueller…..Bueller….. The interesting thing about most African Americans is that they don’t know where they came from. For instance the idea that all black people are from Africa is kind of unimginative and quiet lazy. Yeah I said it. I said it! Keep it positive Roosevelt! Keep it positive! Uhhheeeemmm! Yet I digress.

Never fear Roosevelt is here to save you.  So lay back kick it and enjoy the ride. Singing Just kick it. Just kick iiiittttt. Kick of your shoes and relax your feet.  Party on down with the X-cape beat. Just kick it…

Hey did someone say shoes?

Today in Black People History we are going to talk about a black inventor who made it possible to mass produce shoes.  What a coink kee dink! This famous black inventor was born on September 15th 1852 in Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. That would make him South American or Guianese American. I’m just saying. This famous black inventor’s name was Jan Matzeliger. Does he kind of favor a young somebody else? Hint that somebody else’s name rhymes with Barrack Obama!

What was so important about this invention. Well, as I have come to understand it , because of the skill that it took in those times to stretch the shoe leather over a last shoes took a little while to last.  A skilled laster could do about fifty shoes a day, that is about 6.25 shoes an hour.  Not bad!  However, on this day in 1883 Matzeliger finalized his work on Patent No. 274,207 and daily shoe production went from fifty a day to 700. How about that!

This black inventor mad Lynn, Massachusetts,  the “Shoe Capital of the World.” Pretty amazing. The invention of this machine brought down the price of shoes by fifty percent, however a hundred years later celebrity endorsements brought the prices back up. HA!

Jan Matzeliger (1852-1889)

Click Here To Learn More

Peace,

R

Medgar Evers
1925-1963

Medgar was born July 2, 1925 in Decatur, Mississippi. His father James Evers owned a small farm and worked as a Sawmill worker. Medgar was a leader one of the original leaders in the Civil Rights movement. His passion and drive lead the way for many leaders to come. A contemporary of Dr. King. Medgar was a WWII Veteran and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1945. Read More Here!

That’s Black folks For you. Say one thing do another. So I feel that I owe you all a month of Black History. Why? Because I said I would do it. So I am still in the hole for about 25 days. So I will start now. Besides shouldn’t every day be a day to celebrate the achievements of these great men and women? I know I know I am still on the hook. But rest assured my friends it is a hook that I love to be on. So for the next 25 days we will be taking a look at the history of America as seen through the eyes of people of color. Without further adieu lets begin. Here are some outstanding ladies.

Coretta Scott King
April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006

Let me tell you this is an amazing story, but are you surprised. Coretta was born the second of three children to Obidiah Scott. How is that for a good old fashioned name? Get this Coretta picked cotton as a child to help the family earn money. It is hard to believe that this thing we call black history was really only a minute ago. WOW! Coretta and her sisters and brothers went to a one room elementary school five miles away from home which isn’t a big deal if you are driving uhhhh but they weren’t? MMMMKKAAAAYY! Later when she went to Lincoln Normal School 9 miles away she was bussed. Guess who drove the bus? No not Coretta. Her mom Bernice who bussed all of the local black children. Black parents y’all better get on board. This woman (Corettas Mom Bernice) was once quoted for saying “My children are going to college, even if it means I only have but one dress to put on.” How is that for a PTA meeting? Read More here. Wikipedia tore this one up! Coretta Scott King

Betty Shabazz
May 28, 1934 – June 23, 1997)

Now for anyone that saw Precious. Which I have to admit I didn’t because I just don’t want to see any more abuse pointed towards black children or any children for that matter. (But that is another story!) You can rest assured that no matter how you are raised you can become anything that you desire. Check out this story on the famous Betty X otherwise known as Betty Shabazz. Betty was born Betty Dean Sanders to Ollie May Sanders and Shelman Sandlin. The couple was not married and as I understand it Betty was either neglected or abused by her mother Ollie who raised her in Detroit. Do you now see the Precious reference? Despite all of this she still managed to earn a M.A. in public health education in 1970. In 1975, she received a Ph.D. in education administration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Oh and become of the most famous women in African American History! Read more hear. Betty Shabazz

Dolores Huerta
April 10, 1930 – Present

Dolores grew up in the farmworker community of Stockton, California. Her mother owned a restaurant and a 70-room hotel. They often had local farmworker families stay for free. In 1962, she co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (Unit’s Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee) with Cesar Chávez. In 1966, she negotiated a contract between the UFWOC and Schenley Wine Company, this was the first time that farmworkers were able to successfully collectively bargain with an agricultural enterprise. She was brutally beaten for participating in a non-violent protest in front of the Sir Frances Drake Hotel. This was in 1988 and she was protesting the policies of one George H.W. Bush. You have got to read this. Click Here!

Sharon Maeda

Sharon is was raised in Portland, Oregon. Her parents were moved there after they were released from the concentration camps. Nope not the ones in Germany or in Eastern Europe. The ones right here in the United States. AMAZING! Can you believe that our government was fighting an enemy for crimes against humanity. We were fighting an enemy that we condemned for placing civilians in concentration camps because of there race and religion and we were placing civilians in concentration camps based on race and religion. Does anyone else find this strange? You have got to read about this amazing woman and follow her story she is one of the amazing leaders still active in our community today. Click Here!

Myrlie Evers
1933 –

Born Myrlie Beasley on March 17, 1933, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Myrlie was the first full-time chairman of the NAACP. The wife of Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers, Myrlie stays active in the movement for equality amongst all of our countries people even today. After Medgar’s Death in 1963 she graduated from Pomona College in 1968 and ran for office twice in 1970. Last but far from least Myrlie Evers-Williams. Click Here!