As we all know Black History month has come and gone, which brings us to a recap of the African-American Read-In, sponsored by the RWC Multicultural Affairs Office, led by Helen Kegler. The event was a celebration of the readings of African American literature, highlighting the intelligence, strength and courage of the African American people. Some of the readings were as follows: China Williams read “Tinea.” Williams said it speaks of becoming someone and being tired of the mistreatment of the African American people.
Professor Marilyn Simon read Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream, 1963.”
A lot of passion and emotion went into the readings.
Garre H. Moran read about several extraordinary Black African American inventions, one of which is the three-way traffic light.
Helen Kegler read a passage from UC President Gregory Howard Williams’ book “Life on the Color Line,” about a white boy who discovered he was black.
Student Christy Sunday stated, “The well organized reading was a very passionate and moving experience. It was a people thing not a race thing, with important impact on all races. The reading about the President of UC was so moving about how his grandma was mistreated because they were black.”
Student Kara Sunday also noted that, “It was a celebration of human freedom and African-Americans’ determination to be their own master. It was a celebration of humankind as everyone comes together to fight for and celebrate human freedom.”
As we move forward into the month of March, let us remember the impact that our African American History has made in everyone’s life and be proud that we now have freedom to walk together as one human race.
Here is a list of a few inventions that are luxuries of today, all created by Black inventors.
Player Piano, Joseph Dickinson
Air Conditioning Unit, Frederick M. Jones
Elevator, Alexander Miles
Cellular Phone, Henry Sampson
Motor, J. Gregory
Bicycle Frame, Issac R. Johnson
Guitar, Robert Fleming Jr.
Roller Coaster, Granville T. Woods
Even some medicine, the game of chess, and the alphabet were created by Africans. So let’s remember these contributions as we move forward in our everyday life and think about what our lives would be without them.