Page 4, Section II, Portland Observer, February 10, 1988
African-American History:
Lost, Strayed or Stolen
by Dr. McKinley Burt
M a tth ew Henson
Richard B. Spikes
Frederick M Jones
Invented the modern sema-
phor, a signaling apparatus
used on railroad tracks, also
an automatic gear shift in
1932; automatic transmission
in 1933; and a "fa il safe"
brake system for motor vehi
cles in 1962.
Invented the first efficient
truck refrigeration system, the
portable x-ray machine, and
the refrigerated box car.
(1867 1955)
(1893 1961)
John J. Audubon
Assisted Admiral Robert E.
Perry during his expedition to
the North Pole, thus becom
ing the first man in history to
stand on the North Pole, April
6, 1909.
(1785-1851)
etc., all owning valuable downtown
My article for Black History
Audubon, an artist and orni
Sarah Boone
properties — and all serving a mixed
Month will introduce the reader to
thologist,
was
one
of
the
clientele of whites and Blacks. And
new and pride generating revela
On April 26, 1892, Sarah
this was throughout the South and
greatest naturalists in the his
Hyram S. Thomas
tions about Black accomplishments
Boone was granted patent
Midwest before 1900.
tory of mankind. The famous
at the turn of the century. These
Invented the first potato
No. 473,653 by the U.S. Pa
The question that needs to be
should prove of great interest to
Audubon Society, which is
tent
Office for the invention of
chip
in
1865
while
working
as
asked is "W hat in heaven's name
the general public, students, teach
engaged in nature conserva
happened to all this economic vigor
a chef in Saratoga, N.Y.
the ironing board.
ers, and historians. Hopefully, they
tion, is named after him.
and vitality — and more specifically,
will prompt futher research into par
the equity, the dollars, and the land
ticulars. I am certain that many
that was involved in the Evidence
Lt. Colonel
will be reminded of the video pro
Dr Daniel Hale W illiams
Garrett A. Morgan
of Progress Among Colored Peo
Guion S. Bluford
duced and narrated by Bill Cosby
(1877 1963)
(1856-1931)
Dr.
Charles
R.
Drew
ple” ? Was it really lost? Did it really
in the 1960's: "Black History: Lost,
The
first
Black
American
to
(1904 1950)
stray? Or was it stolen? We note
Invented the gas inhalator
Performed the first success
Strayed or Stolen."
go into outer space, August
that the period coincides with (1)
Developed
a
method
for
(gas mask) in 1916, and the
ful surgery on a human heart
The source document is a book
30, 1983, as a member of the
the institution of Jim Crow laws;
preserving massive quantities
first automatic traffic signal
written in 1902 by G.F. Richings,
in 1893.
(2) the rise of the Ku Klux Kian and
Challenger crew.
"E vid e nce o f Progress Am ong
of
blood
plasma
in
blood
with
three
positions
in
1923.
of lynchings; (3) the ousting of
C olored P eople," George S. Fer
banks. He was also the first
Blacks from the craft unions; (4)
guson Co., Philadelphia. This dedi
Toussaint L'Ouverture
Director of the American Red
the writing of racially-restrictive real
cated Black researcher spent the lat
(1746 -1803)
estate covenants; and (5) an in
Cross Blood Bank.
ter part of last century traveling the
creasing tide of white immigrants
length and breadth of the United
L'Ouverture's father was He did this by extending the
from Europe.
States documenting this progress'
very proud of his son despite battle while the French were
with thousands of photographs,
his being born into slavery, suffering from yellow fever.
legal records, and in-depth inter
and made sure that Toussaint
views. He states, "The home, the
L'Ouverture, which means
learned how to read and ac
store, the school and the church,
"opener",
became general
and the factory are the infallible
quire certain skills. L'Ouver
and governor of Santo Do
sign of civilization; the people who
ture became very interested in
support these exhibit the true signs
herbs for healing and military mingo, now known as the
of enlightenment."
Dominican Republic. His rise
strategy. His family lived on
M ississippi C otton M a n u fa c
to general and governor re
the island of Santo Domingo,
tu rin g Co.: "This company is loca
sulted from his popularity and
in Haiti. This wealthy island
ted at Jackson, Mississippi, for the
Napoleon
was the attraction of England, military victories.
purpose of building a large cotton
was furious w ith the possi
mill where colored labor will be em
Spain, and France.
ployed . . . first conceived by Fred
Africans, who outnumber bility of treating L'Ouverture
erick Douglass in 1893. The capital
ed the invaders, wanted to re as an equal. During the nego
stock is $250,000 (several million in
move them from the island. tiation, L’Ouverture trusted
today's money) . . • The Hon.
France, and was taken pri
L'Ouverture joined the army
First W om an Physician in
James Hill is president, one time
and became chief medical o f soner. His second general,
State of Alabam a, a Black: "Dr.
The "Jolly Green Giant" is a co honored by Wolfgang Amadeus
postmaster of Vicksburg, Missis
Hallie Tanner Johnson, educated at
option of our African heritage by Mozart in his 1791 opera, 'The
ficer. He also taught soldiers Jacques Dessalines, contin
sippi, and recently appointed to the
ued the fight; an African
the Women's Medical College in
the European.
"Osiris", god of Magic Flute'.
U.S. Land Office by President Mc
military protocol and strategy.
Philadelphia,
became
resident
phy
vegetation, was always painted
Kinley . . . the main object is to
"The 'Green Giant' was born in
Toussaint took advantage of maid who heard of Napo
sician at Tuskegee Institute after
green by the Africans as shown in
give the young people an opportu
1925 as the trademark of the Minne
his medical background and leon's plans was able to in
successfully standing for the Ala
many issues of National Geographic sota Canning Co. In 1935 a 'green
nity to follow the industrial as well
form Dessalines in sign lan
knowledge of his homeland,
bama State Board of Examiners.
Magazine.
as the professional walks of life.
skin' was added along with a leaf
and
defeated
Napoleon's guage. Santo Domingo and
She died in 1900 at her home in
cloak.' M organ,'Sym bols Of America
Osiris (and Isis) were magnificently
Coleman M a n ufa cturing Co.
Haiti became free.
Viking Press
Nashville, Tennessee."
60,000 army w ith 20,000 men.
o f South Carolina: "On the 8th of
*■
February, 1898, and with Masonic
Queen N'Zinga
honors, the cornerstone of the
(1582 -1663)
handsome, three-story brick build
ing, 80 x 120 ft.d, was laid. Noted
speakers from all over the United
Queen N'Zinga represents fight for them, and created
States were invited, and the
the strength of African peo friction between chiefs. N'Zin-
M ulinati ia C hurch
nation's railroads gave reduced
ple. She fought against the ga's brother, who was a weak
rates. . . The promoter, Warren C.
(glandi on
Portuguese for forty years king, asked N'Zinga to repre
Coleman, is the wealthiest Negro
Pastor
over her country, Angola. sent him at the Luanda Treaty
in the state and has endorsement
of leading white fianciers. The mill
The Portuguese used every of 1622. She had been al
4222 N.E. 12H1. PORTLAND. OR 97211
is at Concord, N.C., 100 acres on
trick against Africans to divide ready fighting against them
(503) 2X8--241
the Southern Railway . . . 7000 to
and conquor. They sold them for six years. A t this meet
"W E have endured . . .
10,000 spindles, 100 looms, and will
guns for slaves, made slaves ing, the Portuguese did not
spin, weave, manufacture, and sell
We will endure."
provided her a seat, and her
B urkins M odernizes the Gat
warps, yarns, cloth prints and other
men used their own bodies
tlin g Gun: "Eugene Burkins, in
fabrics of cotton and w ool." (I have
for the Queen.
ventor of the Burkin's Automatic
read elsewhere that this firm be
She refused the Portu
Machine Gun was at one time a
came the Cannon Linen Mills of
Chicago shoe shine boy . . . barely
today. A member of the Duke toba
gueses' terms.
When her
able
to
read
or
write
.
.
.
never
a
brother died, she became the
cco family was the only white share
soldier and no experience with a
official Queen and declared
holder.]
gun, he made his first model with
General Evidence o f Progress:
Angola free. This infuriated
a pen knife after examining pictures
"In Nashville, Mr. Joseph Brown
the Portuguese who tried to
of the Battleship Maine . . . Leading
operates a large nursery and hot
colored
people
financed
a
produc
manipulate Africans to kill
house, serving all of the town. In
tion model and Admiral Dewey said
her. Instead, she infiltrated
the same city, Mr. H.C. Gipson has
it was 'by far the best machine gun
their ranks and won victory
a blacksmith's shop and hires quite
ever made — seven times faster
a number of men.”
after victory. Her quick at
than the Gatling Gun.' Several for
And, on and on, Mr. Richings
tacks became legendary from
eign countries offered large sums
chronicles score after score of Black
1616 to 1656.
for the right to manufacture, but
clothiers, freight companies, manu
Mr. Burkins and his partners pro
facturers, real estate developers,
posed to control the invention."
newspaper publishers,
printers,
1
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Can*y
BLACK
HISTORY
This will be the day when all of God s children will
be able to sing with new meamno
jeannette ^eyan Sc(iool
Kindergarten &
4-Yh Old Class
• Reading Readiness
• Number Concepts
• Social Studies
• Arts & Crafts
"Honor Black
History Week"
HEALTH
RESOURCE
CENTER
Carl H. Deiz and
Mercedes F. Deiz
21/a - 3-Yr. Old Class
•
•
•
•
•
"O ur Black History Was and Can be Great Again
Educational Toys
Letters
Number Concepts
Social Behavior
Arts & Crafts
For 1 Am Not Asham ed ot the
Gospel o l Christ. Pom 1:16
N j H H C
Aieem Abdul Shaba»
President
May Allah Bless You
Martin Luther King's legacy to us was
his commitment to love
and to non-violence.
—J lttC
DAY CARE CENTER
606 N E Fremont
287-5656
Hours. 6:30 - 6:00
21/i - 6 years old
Semof PwtO’
116 NF Schuyte'
NERO H ASSO CIATES, INC.
520 S.W . 6th Ave.
Suite 1120
Portland, OR 97204
223 4150
Mt Olivet Baptist Church
l ‘i»ti«n<j Oregon 9 7 ? 12
Church O M ce
(Kail 284 1464
Back to Basics and Lots of Lovino Care
t,c.n.e<J br
start ol Oragon
Dcn’t Forget to Remember our Heritage
Stall ol art. tramad aacnen
.
........ ...
■mm m"i'ii» Him ■ lnl■^l i . i i — h —
- Uf.MIhUMW-» W j T1:
'TU TIT.• <«V.P *•' <'
828 N K'llingsworth
Portland. Oregon 97217 2218
Phone No 289 4915
i
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D avid N ero
1 1 2 88