[Eoscstudents] Black History Awareness

[Levenia Carey]

Did You Know?

There are 9.1 million black families in the United States.  Of these, 
nearly one-half (47 percent) are married-couple families.

The projected single-race black population in the United States as of 
July 1, 2050 is 61.4 million.  On that date, according to the 
projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation's total 
population.

There are 2.4 million black military veterans in the United States in 
2004. (Source:  American FactFinder)

There are 44,000 black physicians and surgeons; 79,400 postsecondary 
teacher; 45,200 lawyers; 49,300 chief executives. (Source: Upcoming 
Statiscal Abstact of the United States: 2007)

46% of black housholders own their own home, nationally.  The rate is 
higher in certain states, such as Mississippi, whre it reached 56 percent.

80% of blacks age 25 and oldr had at least a high school diploma in 
2005. Colorado has 90%. 

17% of blacks 25 and older had an advanced degree in 2005 (e.g. 
master's, Ph.D, M.D., or J.D.).

In 2005, 2.3 million black college students were enrolled.  This was an 
increase of roughly 1 million from 15 years earlier.


FACT

Thomas J. Martin patented the fire extinguisher in 1872.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger (1852-1889) invented the Shoe Lasting machine, 
which connected the upper part of the shoe to the sole. This invention 
revolutionized the shoe making industry.

Lewis Howard Latimer (1848-1928) drafted patent drawings for Alexander 
Graham Bell's telephone while working at a patent law firm.  He patented 
and invented the carbon filament for light bulbs in 1881.

Joseph Winters invented a fire escape ladder in 1878.

Alexander Miles of Duluth, Minnesota patented an electric elevator in 
1887 with automatic doors that would close off the shaft way, thus 
making elevators safer.

Andrew J. Beard (1849-1921) invented the "Jenny Coupler" which allowed 
train cars to hook themselves together when they bumped into one 
antoehr. The device is still used today.

John Love invented the pencil sharpener in 1897.

Sarah E. Goode (1850-?) invented a bed that folded up into a cabinet in 
1885.  Contrary to popular beleif, she was not the first 
African-American woman to receie a patent, but the second.

C.B. Brooks invented the street sweeper n 1896.  It was a truck attached 
with brooms.

L. P. Ray invented the dustpan in 1897.

Henry Brown created what is now known as a "strong box," a metal 
containr to store money and important papers that could be locked with a 
key in 1886.

Joseph Lee (1849-1905) invented an automatic bread making machine that 
mixed the ingredients and kneaded the dough, in 1895.

Henry Blair, the second African-American to receive a patent, invented a 
corn seed planter in 1834 and a cotton planter in 1836.  Blair could not 
read or write and signed his patent with an X.

David Crosthwait Jr. (1898-1979) an expert on heating, ventilation and 
air-conditioning, holds 39 U.S. patents, and 80 interantional patents 
pertaining to heating, refrigeration and temperature regulating 
systems.  Crosthwait created the heating system for New York City's 
Radio City Music Hall.

Jesse Ernest Wilkins, Jr. (1923-  ), a physicits, mathematician and an 
engineer, earned a Ph.D. in mathematics at age 19 from the University of 
Chicago in 1942.

The banjo originated in Africa and up until the 1800s was considered an 
instrument only played by blacks.

Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion, patented 
a wrench in 1922.

Lewis and Clark were accompanied by York, a black slave, when they made 
their 1804 expedition from Missouri to Oregon. York's presence aided in 
the interactions with Native Americans.

Isaac Murphy (1861-1896) a great thoroughbred jockey, was the first to 
win three Derbys and the only jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, the 
Kentucky Oaks, and the Clark Handicap within the same year.

Buffalo Soldiers is a name respectfully given to the African-American 
cavalries during the 1800s by the Kiowa tribe.  These soldiers received 
2nd class treatment and were often given the worst military assignments, 
but had the lowest desertion rate.  More than 20 Buffalo Soldiers have 
received the highest military award, the Medal of Honor - the most any 
military unit has ever received.

Mark Matthews (Buffalo Soldier).   The oldest living Buffalo Soldier, 
Mark Matthews, died at the age of 111 in 2005.

Cathay Williams (1842- ) (Buffalo Soldier)  Cathay Williams was the 
first and only known female Buffalo Soldier.  She was born nto slavery 
and worked for the Union army during the Civil War.  She posed as a man 
and enlisted as Williams Cathay in the 38th infantry in 1866.  She was 
given a medical discharge in 1868.

Bill Pickett (1871-1932) a renowned cowboy and rodeo performer was named 
to the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1971 and honored by the U.S. 
Postal service in a series of stamps as one of the twenty "Legends of 
the West."

Josiah Henson (1789-1883) fled slavery in 1830 and founded a settlement 
in Ontario, Canada for fugitive slaves.  His autobiography is beleived 
to have been Harriet Beecher Stowe's inspiration for the main character 
in "Uncle Tom's Cabin".  Henson's cabin still stands adn is a national 
landmark. Henson's grandosn was part of the first successful U.S. 
expedition to the North Pole.

The more you know......



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