Black History Month and Lesser Known African-Americans

The term little known black Americans can refer to all the people who have made contributions to America and to civilization, but whose names are not as well-known as many others or not known at all. For instance, we hear about Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, and many other famous Black Americans, but what have you heard about Edward Bouchet, or Bessie Coleman, or Matthew Alexander Henson? Black Americans have been making contributions to America from the start, but like countless other Americans whose achievements have altered and enriched our lives, these Black Americans remain unknown. Its important, though, to point out their contributions because too often people dont realize that Black Americans have been making contributions to our country from its inception. In many cases, what they accomplished they managed to do against all odds, in spite of overwhelming obstacles. These people are an inspiration to everyone who finds him or herself in circumstances that seem impossible to overcome. Early Contributions In 1607, English settlers arrived in what would later become Virginia and founded a settlement they named Jamestown. In 1619, a Dutch ship arrived in Jamestown and traded its cargo of slaves for food. Many of these slaves later were freemen with their own land, contributing to the success of the colony. We do know some of their names, like Anthony Johnson, and its a pretty interesting story. But Africans were involved in more than settling Jamestown. Some were part of the early explorations of the New World. For example, Estevanico, a slave from Morocco, was part of a group who had been asked by the Mexican Viceroy in 1536 to go on an expedition into the territories that are now Arizona and New Mexico. He went ahead of the groups leader and was the first non-native to set foot in those lands. While most Blacks originally arrived in America primarily as slaves, many were free by the time the Revolutionary War was fought. One of these was Crispus Attucks, the son of a slave. Most of them, though, like so many who fought in that war, remain relatively nameless to us. But anyone who thinks that it was only the white man who chose to fight for the principle of individual freedom might want to take a look at the Forgotten Patriots Project from the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). They have documented the names of thousands of African-Americans, Native Americans, and those of mixed heritage who fought against the British for freedom. Not-So-Famous Black Americans You Should Know George Washington Carver (1864-1943)Carver is a well-known African-American. Who isnt aware of his work with peanuts? Hes on this list, though, because of one of his contributions that we dont often hear about: The Tuskegee Institute Movable School. Carver established this school to introduce modern agricultural techniques and tools to farmers in Alabama. Movable schools are now used around the world.Edward Bouchet (1852-1918)Bouchet was the son of a former slave who had moved to New Haven, Connecticut. Only three schools there accepted Black students at the time, so Bouchets educational opportunities were limited. However, he managed to get admitted to Yale and became the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. and the 6th American of any race to earn one in physics. Although segregation prevented him from attaining the kind of position he should have been able to get with his outstanding credentials (6th in his graduating class), he taught for 26 years at the Institute for Colored Y outh, serving as an inspiration to generations of young African-Americans.Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (1745?-1818)DuSable was a Black man from Haiti is who is credited with founding Chicago. His father was a Frenchman in Haiti and his mother was an African slave. Its not clear how he arrived in New Orleans from Haiti, but once he did, he traveled from there to what is now modern-day Peoria, Illinois. Although he was not the first to pass through the area, he was the first to establish a permanent settlement, where he lived for at least twenty years. He set up a trading post on the Chicago River, where it meets Lake Michigan, and became a wealthy man with a reputation as a man of good character and sound business acumen.Matthew Alexander Henson (1866-1955)Henson was the son of free-born tenant farmers, but his early life was difficult. He started his life as an explorer at the age of eleven when he ran away from an abusive home. In 1891, Henson went with Robert Peary on the first of several trips to Greenland. Peary was determined to find the geographic North Pole. In 1909, Peary and Henson went on what was to be their final trip, the one on which they reached the North Pole. Henson was actually the first to set foot on the North Pole, but when the two returned home, it was Peary who received all the credit. Because he was Black, Henson was virtually ignored.Bessie Coleman (1892 -1926)Bessie Coleman was one of 13 children born to a Native American father and an African-American mother. They lived in Texas and faced the kinds of difficulties many Black Americans faced at the time, including segregation and disenfranchisement. Bessie worked hard in her childhood, picking cotton and helping her mother with the laundry she took in. But Bessie didnt let any of it stop her. She educated herself and managed to graduate from high school. After seeing some newsreels on aviation, Bessie became interested in becoming a pilot, but no U.S flight schools would accept her be cause she was Black and because she was female. Undeterred, she saved enough money to go to France where she heard women could be pilots. In 1921, she became the first Black woman in the world to earn a pilots license.Lewis Latimer (1848-1928)Latimer was the son of runaway slaves who had settled in Chelsea, Massachusetts. After serving in the U.S. Navy during the Civil War, Latimer got a job as an office boy in a patent office. Because of his ability to draw, he became a draftsman, eventually getting promoted to be the head draftsman. Although he has a large number of inventions to his name, including a safety elevator, perhaps his greatest achievement is his work on the electric light bulb. We can thank him for the success of Edisons lightbulb, which originally had a lifespan of just a few days. It was Latimer who found a way to create a filament system that prevented the carbon in the filament from breaking, thereby extending the life of the lightbulb. Thanks to Latimer, lightbulb s became cheaper and more efficient, which made it possible for them to be installed in homes and on the ​streets. Latimer was the only Black American on Edisons elite team of inventors. What we  love about the biographies of these six people is that not only did they have exceptional talent, but they did not allow the circumstances of their birth to determine who they were or what they could accomplish. That is certainly a lesson for all of us.

How Social Media Profiles And Get A Hands On Perspective

This is why parents need to create social media profiles and get a hands on perspective of how they work and what they do. By doing this, they can also create a network for their kids and connect them with distant relatives and mentors. Additionally, parents can follow their kids and friend them so everytime they post or comment they can see what they are up to. Kelly Wallace’s article stated previously addresses this parenting problem. To further explain the issue she turns to Marion Underwood, who suggests that parents create accounts and get some hands on time with social media and its features. She explains how this can also give parents an understanding of the emotional connection their kids have with social media. Underwood reveals that even she started getting emotionally drawn in when she had to use Facebook for an experiment stating â€Å"it is really reinforcing to a middle-aged mother, so think how it feels to a young person...Parents need to get on these platforms † (Wallace). Other experts also suggest this; in Emily Bazelon’s article â€Å"Parents: Stop Freaking Out About Teens’ Use Of Social Media,† Microsoft researcher and NYU media and culture professor Danah Boyd states that parents should develop a network for their children on social media with relatives, friends, coaches or other positive influences. She explains how this will be especially helpful because not only will they be supervised by other adults and close friends, but they will be able to talk to them forShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Psychology of Social Media 1716 Words   |  7 Pagessince the development of social networking sites, people are now able to create a carefully-crafted identity for themselves. This has led psychologists to question how well these online personalities match the person in front of the computer. The innovative branch of media psychology looks into how social networking portrays individuals and initiates human intera ctions within a society. A basic question is how well are people able to get to know each other through social networking sites? In a researchRead MoreThe Story of Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook1108 Words   |  4 PagesZuckerbergs social media service, Facebook, to keep in touch with their friends and family members, and increasingly their workplace as well. Indeed, around the world, people from all walks of life are coming together on Facebook and forming communities of interest that are changing the definition of interpersonal socialization in ways that will inevitably have a profound effect on how people communicate in the future. In the meantime, unlike many of his competitors, Zuckerberg figured out how to actuallyRead MoreEssay on Ethical Issues with Social Media1505 Words   |  7 PagesEthical Issues with Social Media People are increasingly sharing their lives online through social networking sites with little concern for who may be viewing their information. This has become an issue in current times and is up for debate based on the ethical issues associated with Social Media. People don’t realize joining a social network is like joining a community. As any community in real life, your business has a place in the community but should not invade one’s privacy. Social networking isRead MoreLinkedIn: The Fastest Growing Media Platform in The World Essay1152 Words   |  5 Pagesreason never created a profile. However, after being required to create a LinkedIn account I now realize the vast potential that it has to offer. For starters, it is one of the fastest growing social media platforms in the world. â€Å"LinkedIn’s global network adds approximately one new member every second† (Eyres, 2009). Secondly, it provides people the opportunity to network with professiona ls who may work in the same field as you or people who have similar skills. Your profile can be viewed by virtuallyRead MoreNegative Effects Of Social Media1350 Words   |  6 Pagestoday’s society, social media is an important tool that many people use daily for various purposes. On social media, people share their opinions, events in their lives, and news. They also use social media as a tool for entertainment and as a way of keeping in touch with their friends. Because of its various uses, the use of social media increased very significantly over the years and it is no surprise that many scholars from different disciplines took an interest in the use of social media. These scholarsRead MoreFor Most People The Self Is Portrayed Differently Online,1397 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferently online, compared to in person. The online individual is more likely to portray the images they would like others to portray them as, compared to an individual’s self in person. Having an online profile like a friend of mine, by the name of Zach McDonald, gives his audience a sense of disbelief on how successful and happy he is. Compared to his in-person self, where he portrays an incomplete and dissatisfied self. Not expressing all the values and attitu des that he portrays online, gives peopleRead MoreThe Effects Of Social Media On Our Society909 Words   |  4 PagesUsing Social Media to Boost Your Recovery from Drugs and Alcohol When you are suffering from a debilitating addiction, it s easy to feel alone, isolated, and frightened during recovery. However, the emergence of social media has helped connect the world in a way never imagined. And you can tap into these brand new resource as a tool towards fueling our recovery and regaining a life of sobriety. The Widespread Nature Of Social Media The impact social media has had on our society is staggering.Read MoreThe Effect Of Social Media On The Working Environment And Survey Its Utilization As A Successful Business Tools1678 Words   |  7 Pageswill look over the effect of social media communication in the working environment and survey its utilization as a successful business tools. The paper will investigate the drivers of improvement and obstacle to change and investigate whether the explanations behind a few associations forbidding or limiting social media communication in the working environment is generally established or corporate suicide. The paper looks to investigate the connection between social networking and organizationalRead MoreThe Effects of Social Media on a Business1254 Words   |  6 PagesSocial media has greatly changed the way people communicate and interact with one another. There are a variety of social media sites which are used worldwide, such as Youtube, Facebook and Twitter. This type of c ommunications method is now being used by business in marketing their products. The fact that many people use social media to discuss their thoughts and views online, has caused business to alter their communications and marketing strategies to better fit the new mean of sending out messagesRead MoreNegative Effects of Social Media on Teens Essay examples1034 Words   |  5 PagesFrom thintastic blogs to suicide stories, social media has become not only a source of conversation but a gateway to harmful suggestions that many teenagers see and believe to be allowable, when in fact the situations proposed are dangerous to those who attempt them. Statistics show that 20% of anorexic teenagers will die prematurely, and 80% of teenagers who commit suicide are depressed (South). Social media has glorified and brought to attention eating disorders, depression, and suicide among

Terrorism And Its Effects On The World - 2549 Words

Terrorism, as defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary, is â€Å"the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal†. Terrorism has always been a serious threat to the nation, but has recently come to the forefront of international affairs. After the attacks on the Twin Towers on September 11th, 2001, militant groups have started to assert their dominance in the world more and more. From countless fatal bombings to the 2015 Paris Attacks, groups such as Al Qaeda and ISIS have killed or injured thousands, destroyed immense amount of property, and instilled fear into the hearts of all. This allows for many people to question, what makes these groups so effective? How do terrorists find so much†¦show more content†¦It was a commercial complex, and the Twin Towers were considered the â€Å"centerpiece.† These two buildings were specifically targeted on 9/11. These towers were the tallest buildings in New York. Insi de them, their was collectively 430 companies and 35,000 people. On the day of the attack, four commercial airline planes were hijacked by 19 terrorist suicide militants. The first two planes, each fully boarded with passengers, were each crashed into the Twin Towers. The first of the two planes crashed high up on the towers. The first plane collided with the North Tower at around 8:45 AM, and many thought it was an accident. It was not until the second plane collided with the South Tower around 9:00 AM. At this point, people knew for certain it was a terrorist attack. The third plane, however, did not attack New York. This plane, again a fully boarded commercial airline, crashed into the Pentagon building in Arlington, Virginia, around 9:40 AM. The fourth and final plane crashed into a vacant field in western Pennsylvania after the passengers began to fight back. These four attacks collectively killed close to 3,000 people- 2,753 in New York, 184 people in the Pentagon, and 40 peop le on the fourth flight. The ideology behind the September 11th attacks was studied intensely afterwards. Since Al Qaeda did not have the ability to take out America’s military, they chose to attack symbolic sites instead. The Twin Towers served to represent â€Å"globalization and America’s economic

Compare poems Boy driving his father to confession by Seamus Heaney and Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols Essay Example For Students

Compare poems Boy driving his father to confession by Seamus Heaney and Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols Essay When asked to compare the two poems à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Boy driving his father to confession by Seamus Heaney and Praise song for my mother by Grace Nichols the first thing that stuck out was the difference in layout. Seamus Heaneys poem is written in longer sentences and reads more like a story. Grace Nichols poem is a lot shorter with only two words in some lines and it compares her mother to various things. Seamus Heaney writes about his father in a realistic way, never praising him and only focussing on his bad points. Grace Nichols on the other hand only praises her mother, so much that I felt that this poem was a lie, nobody thinks that their parent is that perfect. Praise song for my mother is written in the past tense so maybe her mother is dead and she has written this poem in her memory, only praising her good points because maybe she feels guilty that they could have been closer. In the last line of the poem it says Go into your wide futures, you said perhaps the daughter went overseas and didnt see her mother for a long time and now feels guilty that while away her mother was ill and died and had to face this without her daughter by her side. I think its easier to see the good points in someone if you are away from them for a long time, you dont have to see their bad points and like the saying says absence makes the heart grow fonder. Boy driving his father to confession tells us about the difficult relationship between Seamus and his father. You are immediately aware of this in the title, instead of writing son he has written boy. I think that men find it difficult to talk about their feelings and emotions. Seamus Heaney tells us that on only four occasions has he seen his father let his guard down and show his emotions. The picture I get of his father is a very private man who keeps himself to himself he probably doesnt talk to his son about anything personal only to tell him to do his homework, wash the car, tidy the room etc. I also feel that if they had to discuss an item of news the father would not accept the sons point of view. The writer Grace Nichols is Caribbean and because of this has written her poem comparing her mother to various things found in the Caribbean, in line 12 she has written the flame trees spread to me followed by the crabs leg / the fried plantain smell. I think that my mother would be upset to be compared to something that I used to look for in rock pools on holidays. The diet of the Caribbean people is very different to ours. Her mother appears to have been very hippy like. Grace compares her to water, deep and bold and fathoming. I think that the mother understood her daughter well, and because of this allowed her to make her own decisions and perhaps learn by her own mistakes. In the second verse she compares her mother to the moon you were moons eye to me, pull and grained and mantling. Her mother would always look out for Grace, perhaps Grace didnt always agree with her mother but she always knew that her mother would protect her. The third verse you were sunrise to me rise and warm and streaming. This again shows the Caribbean influence with the reference to the sunrises à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" more common there than in Wales. Seamus Heaney is an Irish, Roman Catholic, we know his religion from the end of the poem where he drops his father at the church so he can go to confession. Seamus Heaney appears to be reflecting on his relationship with his father, Here at the churchyard I am slowing down to meet you, the fourth time on common ground. Why is he driving his father to confession? .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca , .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .postImageUrl , .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca , .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca:hover , .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca:visited , .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca:active { border:0!important; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca:active , .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u496e3b9ad613d3ec1651c2eed92128ca:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Rohinton Mistry EssayHe writes you grunt, and slam the door. I watch another who gropes awkwardly to know his father. The Roman Catholics use the term father for God. Does his father have to make peace with God because he is dying, is this why Seamus is prepared to meet his father because he may not be around for long. Seamus Heaney struggles to understand his father. I think that he was a reserved man who when his other son died was terribly upset and Seamus was startled to find that his father didnt know what to do to make things better. They appear to have been a family whose life was fairly routine and ordinary, when his mother goes away for a holiday they take her to the airport and his father is upset. I was shocked at your tears when my mothers plane took off he writes In twelve years you had not been apart for one whole day till this long talked of holiday Perhaps even though this had been discussed the father didnt really think the mother would go without him, why did she go away? Perhaps there was another reason, maybe the two parents werent getting along anymore. Having shown his emotions to his son at the airport he is then embarrassed and takes him for a beer. When his father tells Seamus a smutty story he is trying to treat his son like one of his mates, and Seamus writes We both knew this was an unprecedented breakthrough. Perhaps his father was finding it easier to get along with his son the older he got. You asked me to drive up to church, and sit morose as ever. I think his father was a moody man, never really happy with his life and now has had to make a big decision to confess to God about his life, and tries to hide his feelings by telling his son how to drive the car. I preferred Boy driving his father to confession to Praise song for my mother I think its because the Irish culture is similar to our own and the references in Praise Song do not really mean much to me, also Seamus Heaney poem is more of a story with Grace Nichols poem you have to think about what she means à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" when she refers to her mother as pull and grained and mantling. Perhaps also because I am a son I relate better to Boy driving his father to confession.