You HAVE HEARD ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH... BuT How MUCH Do You KNOW? By SINEAD C. DEROISTE Isn't it ironic that Black History Month has come and gone and has received little recognition and yet we still question the need for a Black History Month? The following excerpt is from an article that the Black Student Union has come across and feels the need to share. Where would America be without us?? There are very few crops that have flourished because the nation was built on a slave-supported system. There are not cities with tall sky scrapers because Alexander Miles, a black man, invented the elevator, and without it one finds great difficulty reaching high floors. There are few if any cars because Richard Spikes, a black man, invented the automatic gear shift, Joseph Gammel, also black, invented the supercharge system for internal combustion engines, and Garret A. Morgan invented the traf fic signals. Furthermore, one could not use the rapid transit system because its precursor was the electric trolley, which was invented by another black man Elbert R. Robinson. Even if there were streets on which cars and a rapid transit system could operate, they were cluttered with paper because an African American, Charles Brooks, invented the street sweeper. There were few if any newspapers, magazines and books because John Love invented the pencil sharpener, William Purvis invented the fountain pen, Lee Burridge invented the type writing machine and W A. Lovette invented the advanced printing press. They were all black. Even if Americans could write their letters, articles and books, they would not have been transported by mail because William Barry invented the post marking and canceling machine, William Purvis invented the handstamp, and Philip Downing invented the letter drop. The lawns were brown and wilted because Joseph Smith invent ed the lawn sprinkler and John Burr the lawn mower. When they entered - their homes, they found them to be poorly ventilated and heated. You see, Frederick Jones invented the air conditioner and Alice Parker the heating furnace. Their homes were also filthy because Thomas W. Stewart invent ed the mop and Lloyd P. Ray the dust pan. Their children met them at the door barefooted, shabby, motley and unkempt. But what could one expect, Jan E. Matzelinger invented the shoe lasting machine, Walter Sammons invented the comb, Sarah Boone invented the ironing board George T. Samon invented the clothes dryer. Finally, they were resigned to at least have dinner amidst all of this turmoil. But here again, the food had spoiled because another black man, John Standard invented the refrigerator. No light to eat their spoiled meal because the filament within the light bulb was invented by a black WHAT WOULD THIS WORLD BE LIKE WITHOUT US??!! To learn more about the contributions of Blacks stop by and visit the Black Student Union which meets Tuesday at 12:30 in the Oliver LaGrone Cultural Arts Center. Men's and Women's P) Nexxus Hair Cuts 1111, Products Olmsted Plaza Barber Shop Jamaway Plan No. 10 944-9364 Shop Hours Monday• Thursday 8:00 a.m. • 7:00 p.m. Friday 8:00 a.m. • 6:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. • 2:00 p.m. Business Manager *24 Hour Study Lou* *ll2 Block To Campus st. / *On Site Laundry & Parking *Convenient Downtown Location CALDER COMMONS APARTMENTS 520 East CakkT Way, State College, PA 16801 814-235-3456 macalderecamonstom Honors Seminar: Comparative Justice and Political Systems (Summer 03) Assoc. Profe This trip in Depa Departure Return D The a an porti T 1 knowlt travel, stop i app How Ivluch Ate YOU Going To Pay For Rent Next Yee?? HONOR 401 H (3 cr.) (Room C-118). ll be the faculty don with four 31, 2003 r back to the gust 17, 2003 portion ris ition tional please Id also ffice
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers