Time to learn some real black history........

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

It's that time of year again yall.  Where the children learn about the same handful of people that we learned about back in the day.  I'm proud of their accomplishments, but let's dig a little deeper and you will be surprised at some of the everyday things that black men and women invented, but you were never told about.  From the cellular telephone, to the golf tee, to the supercharger, to the filament in the light bulb.  Even the potato chip was invented by a person of color.

Twenty-eight days is not enough.  I mean I just found out that the man who invented air conditioning, ventilation, and HVAC systems etc. was born right here where I live in Nashville TN.  He even designed the heating system for the historic Radio City Music Hall in NYC.  I was never taught about him in school, but Nathan Bedford Forest who was a Grand Wizard in the KKK has a statue off of the interstate and a building named after him on a college campus for historic purposes.  Almost makes me mad how this info is withheld from us unless we seek it.

They call my city of Nashville, TN "Music City" and associate it with country music.  But the real story behind how Nashville got the nickname goes back to the Fisk Jubilee Singers who sang for Queen Victoria of England back in the late 1800's.  She was so in awe of them that she dubbed Nashvlle, TN "The Music City."  The famous portrait of the Fisk Jubilee Singers was commisioned by Queen Victoria as a gift to the University from England.  Of course every time the term "Music City" is used, it is in reference to country music.  I just found out this info last year during Black History Month.  Why isn't it a part of the mainstream history be it that an entire industry borrowed the term for it's benefit?  I know the answer, but the question must be asked. 

Now tell me after you read some of this info whether or not it makes you proud.   


http://inventors.about.com/library/blblackinventors.htm

http://www.swagga.com/inventors.htm

http://www.blackinventor.com/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/black.shtml

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmscientists1.html

[one hammes]

good research. great resorces

[BigFoot_BigThumb]

I'm making it my job to let people know what black history really has done for this world as a whole.  I mean it really bothers me that we are only told about the same handful of folks year after year.  Lays and Pringles shoule be shouting out black history.  All of the cell phone companies, and the PGA.  Really all of the industries that have benefitted should at least give props.  Do you feel me?

[blessedhands80]

I'm making it my job to let people know what black history really has done for this world as a whole.  I mean it really bothers me that we are only told about the same handful of folks year after year.  Lays and Pringles shoule be shouting out black history.  All of the cell phone companies, and the PGA.  Really all of the industries that have benefitted should at least give props.  Do you feel me?

I feel you BF_BT...you are exactly right...

[Furious Styles]

Bigfoot,

I didn't know that....about the Fisk Jubilee singers.. I live in Nashville and always thought that was about Country music. Talk about being destroyed because of a lack of knowledge..

[vtguy84]

Excellent resources BigFoot

[nessalynn77]

Good job, Big Foot!  ...and you are as right as you can be.  You think you learned little about Black History, I grew up in Utah, if it wasn't Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks, they had no idea what you were talking about.