P»tie 6, The News Argus, February, 1982
Black History Acknowledges Several Achievements
By Percy Johnson
I-ebruary is a very iniporlant month
because it is designated as Black
History Month. Normally, when one
thinks of black history, immediately
the mind refers to such names as Dr.
Martin Luther King ,lr., Harriet Tub
man, Malcolm X, Nat Turner, Cieorge
Washington Carver, Booker T.
Washington, Mary McLeod Bethune,
W.E^B. DuBois and a few other greatly
recognized blacks. The contributions
of these people are very valuable to not
only blacks, but to all mankind.
Unfortunately, there are many great
blacks that go unnoticed by blacks,
whites, and in some cases, historians.
Blacks should not be unaware of their
heritage and the contributions the
black man has given to the world.
Black History Month is a month for all
the contributions to be recognized, not
just a select few. All black collegc
students should definitely know black
history in great detail. Many whites
would be surprised if they were told all
the contributions of the black man.
Many people don’t know how Black
History Month began. Carter G.
Woodson (1875-1950) launched the
observance of Negro History Week in
1926. This eventually led to Black
History Month.
FROM slavery .TO DISCRIMINATION.
• • - ^ 0' • •
fcLACK HISTORY HOKlTH 15
THE T/r'E: FOR U5 TO take
PRIOE »N the HI5T0KY AMD
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Did you know that a black man in
vented the traffic light? Garrett A.
Morgan (1875-1963) sold his rights
to the traffic light to General Electric
in 1923. Morgan also invented the gas
mask, which was first used in World
War I. The telegraph system was in
vented by a black man namedGranville
I. Woods (1856-1910). The manner
in which sugar industries rel'ine sugar
was invented by a black man, Norbert
Rillieux.
In 1939, Dr. Charles Drew
discovered how to save blood plasma
and founded the first two blood banks
in the world. Ironically, he died
because he would not be admitted to a
Come To The Fair
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Special Education Job Fair
March 31,1882
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white hospital to receive blood when he
was badly wounded in an automobile
accident.
In 1907, Alain Locke became the
first black Rhodes Scholar. Not until
1962 was there another black Rhodes
Scholar.
The author of The Invisible Man was
black. Ralph W. Ellison wrote many
great novels.
Chicago was founded by a black man,
Jean De Sable (1745-1818).
Chicago is currently America’s second
largest city.
Benjamin Banneker constructed the
I'irst clock in America, and surveyed
the plans for Washington, D.C.
Thurgood Marshall became the I’irst
and still is the only black to ever serve
as a Supreme Court .lustice.
A black man became the first jockey
Team Shows Unity
From Page 5
that they are even closer now as a team
because, “they don’t depend on them,
but rather each other as a team."
C'oach Conley commented.
The lowest amount ol points sci>rcd
for the team was 51 points, and that
was higher than any major college girls
team. He also feels that if the team had
more support and publicity from the
conmumity, the WSSU Ramcltes could
build up a better basketball program.
to win the Kentucky Derby three times.
This man also has the highest winning
percentage of any jockey ever. His
name was Isaac Murphy
(1856-1966).
On .luly 9. 1893, Dr. Daniel Hale
Williams performed the world’s first
successful heart surgery. Dr. W'illiams
was a black man.
In 1908 Jack Johnson became the
first black heavyweight boxing cham
pion of the world. He is considered as
the greatest boxer ever.
Did you know theie exists a Negro
National Anthem? It was written in
19(K) by James Weldon Johnson, a
black man. “1 ill [ivery Voice and
Sing” is an anthem that all blacks
should recognize.
The list of contributions goes on and
on, I must reiterate the fact that blacks
must place more emphasis on the im
portance of Black History Month. The
black man has done so much to make
America what it is today. Black
History Month should not be regarded
lightly because it is indeed important.
Note: Information was compiled
with the assistance of the book, “A
Biographical History of Blacks in
America Since 1528.” The author
is Edgar A. Toppin.
Percy Johnson is l:(lilor-in-('hief of
The News Artins. fie is a freshnwn
hislory major from ('harlollesville.
Vu.
of Winston-Salem State University
Columbia Scholastic Press
Association Medalist
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