May 1979
Compass
Pages
Black Contributors Have Been Ignored
By Lillie VaughaD
For a long time little or no
recognition was given to the
many black contributors to
the growth of science and
technology in America. Now
in the midst of a new black
awareness and pride,
research in these areas
continue to reveal a sur
prising number of con
tributions by blacks . New
history books need to be
written to include this vital
information, especially
during these times when the
major focus is on low
achievement levels by black
students.
Let me mention some of the
contributions blacks have
made to give you some idea of
the power of a black mind.
Check out Norbet Rillieux
(1806-1894), the brother who
cut cost and energy in
refining sugar. Thanks to
him your coffee probably
tastes sweeter for less.
Ever hear of Thomas
Edison? Well right along
with him should go a brother
named Lewis H. Latimer
(1848-1928). He did research
in the development and
commercialization of the
electric light.
What would America the
beautiful be like without
bridges and other dynamic
structures we see all across
the nation? Well, a brother
named Archie Alexan-
der(1888-1958) did excellent
work in engineering bridges,
power plants, and major
structures across our nation.
Thanks brother, we needed
that.
Frederick M. Jones (1892-
1961) held more than 60
patents in a variety of fields,
but refrigerator for long-haul
trucks was one of his
specialties.
“McDonald’s, ” where
would you be without him ?
For you ladies who are still
crying equal rights, did
Katherine Johnson (1918- );
she is liberated and smoking.
Her brilliance was in
pioneering research in the
field of trucking manned and
unmanned space missions.
How about that ERA?
O.S. (Ozzie) Williams (1921-
) was the first black
aeronautical engineer
to be hired by Republic
Aviation, Inc. during World
War n. Presently he deals
from rockets to solar and
wind energy from Africa.
Ingenuity and an inborne
thirst to get up and do
something prompted J. Er
nest Wildins, Jr. (1923- ) to
break through and get his Ph-
D at the age of 19. He works in
the area of research and
development of nuclear
power. Heavy..
Meredith Gourdine (1929- )
is known for his pioneering
work in electrogasdynamics,
a way of producing high-
voltage electricity from
natural gas. Now can you
handle that?
A sister by the name of
Annie Easley (19.32- )
develops and implements
computer codes used in
solar, wind, and other energy
projects.
Ever heard of “Occustat”?
No! Well, it is a system for
monitoring and controlling
energy conservation. It is
designed to reduce energy
waste in temporarily vacant
homes and other buildings.
Brother Clarence L. Elder
(1935- ) designed it. Ex
cellent for dormitories during
Easter vacation and other
breaks, right?
Crodell Reed (1938- ) is the
brother responsible for the
engineering design of all
nuclear projects. Concerned
about energy physics
research at three Federal
agencies - the Atomic Energy
Commission, the Energy
Research and Development
of Energy. The brother is
even deeper than that, during
a year as visiting Professor at
Stanford University he
became director of the
summer science program for
gifted disadvantaged college
1891
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Events of the
Eiahtv-eiahth
W w
COMMENCEMENT SEASON
1979
1979
Sunday, May 13
* Commencement 10:30 A.M.
Sports Arena
Speaker, Dr. Raymond H. Dawson
Other Events
* Sunday, April 29 - 8:00 P.M Band Concert
* Friday, May 4 - 7:30 P.M Kindergarten Commencement
Moore Hall
* Sunday, May 6 - 8:00 P.M Choir Concert
* Wednesday, May 9 - 8:00 P.M Class Night Program
Friday, May 11 - 4:30 P.M Chancellor's Dinner for Seniors
Lawn - Chancellor’s Residence
Saturday, May 12 ■ 10:00 A.M Briefing Session
New Gymnasium
Saturday, May 12 - 10:00 A.M Alumn, Meeting
* Sunday, May 13
University Center (Immediately following Commencement)
‘The public is invited to attend. . ,_
students. Three cheers for
brother Coleman!
The list does not stop here,
it goes on and on. The
recorders of much of our
written history shyed away
from many contributions
blacks made for so long, but
do not think for one minute
the oppressed people is
substantial when doors are
trying to be opened for them
and their children in ob
taining a better un
derstanding of self.
If you ever hear someone
shouting out blacks lack of
contributions to science and
technology, stick a stopper in
their mouths and tell them to
get a free copy of “Black
Contributions to Science and
Energy Technology” from
the United States Department
of Energy, Washington, D. C.
This pamphlet (made
available to other science and
technology departments by
our office of Public In
formation) was really an
“eye-opener” for me.
^ Dawson Speaker for
Commencement
Chancellor Marion D.
Thorpe announced that the
Eighty-Eighth Com
mencement at Elizabeth City
State University is scheduled
for Sunday, May 13. The
commencement address will
be given by Dr. Raymond H.
Dawson, Vice-President for
Academic Affairs of the
University of North Carolina
System.
Dr. Dawson has served as
Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences and General
College at UNC - Chapel Hill.
Dr. Dawson holds degrees
from the College of the
Ozarks, Vanderbilt
University and UNC - Chapel
Hill, and has formerly par
ticipated in the Fulbright
Lectures at the University of
London. He is currently a
member of the American and
Southern Political Science
Associations and of the In
ternational Institute for
Strategic Studies. He
began his professional
teaching career in 1951 at the
Presbyterian Junior College.
Following the address by
Dr. Dawson, Chancellor
Thorpe will confer degrees on
approximately 310 un
dergraduates of the arts and
sciences, slightly up from
last year’s total. President
Willie B. Spence will then
induct the new graduates into
membership in the ECSU,
* t7e^iVfal‘AruWiii*AS^olfab'oh.”