Shontavia Johnson, a lawyer and professor of Intellectual Property Law at Drake University, wrote an eye-opening piece on the history of African American slaves being denied (or having outright stolen), patents for their inventions. Entrepreneurs Summit SistersInc. You were too big,’” Crews said. cnx.cmd.push(function() { “First of all, it’s really American history,” Crews said. Evrod Cassimy is the morning anchor for Local 4 News Today. Part of HuffPost Black Voices.

INFORMATION He became one of the first men to join the #MeToo movement, calling out a Hollywood executive who he claims sexually assaulted him.

This is what boundaries are all about, and once I felt I was valuable enough to stand up for myself, I could.”. We made it easy for you to exercise your right to vote! According to Johnson’s research, owners often took credit for slave inventions.

You can read her entire article here. After purchasing his freedom, he invented what came to be known as the “Boyd Bedstead,” a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard. Alfred A. Cralle invented the ice cream scoop, Daniel H. Williams didn’t invent the procedure, he was the first surgeon to do it successfully, friend encouraged them to make a song about the popular dance, rapper Doug E. Fresh is hailed as the originator of the popular dance. Women of Power TECH, PODCASTS We are an integral part of everything in America.”. Get the answers to Wednesday's quiz. The 51-year-old is no stranger to making history himself. We made things. For Crews, speaking out was about standing up against injustice. There are so many examples that we couldn't fit them all in one post. Governments around the world … "We’ve invented things. Black History Month actually started as Negro History Week in 1917. Since then each American president has issued African American History Month … Well, thanks to, Thomas Edison may have invented the light bulb, but, Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter, Register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot today. Black people have made some incredible contributions to society, including in the realms of music and culture. Montgomery’s owners tried to take credit for the propeller invention and patent it themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not the true inventors.”. But we decided to pulled together a short list of some of the things invented by black people that the world simply wouldn't be able to live without -- as a simple reminder that black history really is everyone's history. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566. Here is an in-depth look at what I mean and why I believe every American can celebrate Black History Month all year long. You always have to recognize when you have had your lines crossed. Black History Month in the UK takes place each October, starting on the first of the month and ending on the 31st. He foresaw problems obtaining a patent so he partnered with a white craftsman and had his partner apply.

Black History Month is an entire month devoted to putting a spotlight on African Americans who have made contributions to our country. Evrod was born in Michigan but grew up in the Chicagoland area. playerId: '90f4911f-b6a3-4a70-a4f1-bf766cf34ace'
Imagine what the roads would look like without traffic lights. As Black History Month comes to an end, we must remind ourselves that February isn't the only month in the year to acknowledge the accomplishments of African-Americans, especially when we use some of the things that were invented by black people every day. "That’s like saying a house is too big to get robbed. In recognition of Black History Month, Local 4 spoke with a man who made history by helping the Detroit Youth Choir stay on America's Got Talent, eventually leading them to second place. "So I have an obligation to take control and take advantage of all these opportunities that I have in front of me.”. Black History Month Quiz -- Answers In honor of Black History Month, The Tavis Smiley Show challenges listeners with a history quiz. The application was rejected due to his status as a slave. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. In this part of Scholastic's Culture and Change: Black History in America online activity, students get to know Famous African American Inventors by reading our slideshow, which includes the following inventors:. He hasn’t been back to our area for years, but he’s hopeful the next AGT winner is from Detroit so he’ll have a reason to come back. Registry of Corporate Directors. }).render('c91115d1bb864fab9e1a1467efc1c1e8'); Partnership Solutions By this time, the entire nation had come to recognize the importance of Black history in the drama of the American story. That year, fifty years after the first celebration, the association held the first African American History Month. Women of Power Summit previous post. From inside his Los Angeles-area home, Terry Crews spoke candidly about what Black History Month means to him. The AGT host and NAACP award nominee honors those who have come before him and recognizes the sacrifices they have made. !function(n){if(!window.cnx){window.cnx={},window.cnx.cmd=[];var t=n.createElement('iframe');t.display='none',t.onload=function(){var n=t.contentWindow.document;c=n.createElement('script'),c.src='//cd.connatix.com/connatix.player.js',c.setAttribute('async','1'),c.setAttribute('type','text/javascript'),n.body.appendChild(c)},n.head.appendChild(t)}}(document); Contact Black History Month is something he celebrates year-round. ... Black History Month black inventors Henry Boyd patents Shontavia Johnson. Mainstream historians left out Black Americans from the narrative of American history up until the 1960s, and Woodson worked his entire career to correct this blinding oversight. ABOUT

Benjamin Montgomery, born into slavery in 1819, invented a steamboat propeller designed for shallow waters. BE 100s Slavery The first African slaves arrived at Jamestown, Va., in 1619. Today is National Voter Registration Day! This was a valuable invention as it facilitated the delivery of food and critical items. B.E. Management cnx({ All rights reserved. He is an award winning journalist and a six-time Emmy Award nominee. Privacy Policy Free blacks sometimes did successfully receive patents. Johnson also has other examples of past and present black inventors. “For me, it’s more than a month, to be honest, but the fact that we have to recognize the contributions that African-Americans have made all through the years is the most important thing," Crews said. She explains that the patent system–which started officially in 1787–was not open to African Americans born into slavery as they weren’t considered citizens. As per Johnson, “Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. I caught up with Crews, and he explained why Black History Month is so important. As Black History Month comes to an end, we must remind ourselves that February isn't the only month in the year to acknowledge the accomplishments of African-Americans, especially when we use some of the things that were invented by black people every day. Masthead, Rebounding After Tragedy, Koils by Nature Natural Hair Products Founder Scores Major Business Deal, Facebook Group Unites Black Fathers to Counter Stereotypes.
For Crews, Black History Month is about standing up for yourself and others. LOS ANGELES – In recognition of Black History Month, Local 4 spoke with a man who made history by helping the Detroit Youth Choir stay on America’s Got Talent, eventually leading them to second place. About Copyright 2020 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. One example is Thomas Jennings, the first black patent holder, who invented dry cleaning in 1821. Terry Crews played football for most of his career, but is now an actor and TV show host.

BLACK ENTERPRISE is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. His business grew successful and he employed 23 blacks and whites. He joined WDIV in August of 2013. Read more: ‘America’s Got Talent’ host Terry Crews reflects on success of Detroit Youth Choir ahead of auditions. Though U.S. patent law was created with color-blind language to foster innovation, the patent system consistently excluded these inventors from recognition.”. “I’m doing a lot of things simply because people in my past, generations before me could not even try it," Crews said. One example is Thomas Jennings, the first black patent holder, who invented dry cleaning in 1821. ©2020 Verizon Media. Author, journalist, and historian Carter G. Woodson—now appropriately recognized as the “ father of black history ”—lobbied vigorously for the national recognition of black stories and perspectives. These have ranged from practical everyday devices to applications and scientific discoveries in diverse fields, including physics, biology, math, plus the medical, nuclear and space science. The origins of Black History Month lay in early 20th-century historian Carter G. Woodson's desire to spotlight the accomplishments of Black Americans. That barrier didn’t stop African Americans from inventing and their patents from being exploited. Who doesn't enjoy a fresh scoop of ice cream on a hot day? Since 1970, BLACK ENTERPRISE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers.

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This list of African Americans inventors and scientists documents many of the African-Americans who have invented a multitude of items or made discoveries in the course of their lives. “When you talk about the legacy that African-Americans -- we built this country,” Crews said. February marks Black History Month, a federally recognized, nationwide celebration that calls on all Americans to reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in … “A lot of people were telling me, ‘You were too big to get molested. It’s not just confined to February, either. Here are a few examples of African American inventions during the time of slavery that Johnson cites: Henry Boyd was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802. Your Money, Your Life, LATEST LISTS Crews is a native of Flint. Johnson writes, “One group of prolific innovators, however, has been largely ignored by history: black inventors born or forced into American slavery. Black Men XCEL