Today’s Information On African American History: November 8, 2009

The answers to last issue’s questions are: 1943, Microbiology, Little Richard, 118, Raisin in the Sun, and Chicago.

There were a lot of Civil Right’s and African American (black) groups during the 1960’s. Some were led by ministers and somewhat reserved African Americans; others were led by militants and more demonstrative individuals. Sometimes, they balanced each other; sometimes they brawled with each other; and sometimes they backed each other. Some groups had been growing since 1909 (NAACP); others developed and grew in the 1950’s and 1960’s.

One of the more militant-type groups was one called CORE---the Congress On Racial Equality, founded on the campus of the University of Chicago. This group was not only focused and energized; they were made up mainly of university students of various ethnic groups, notably Anglo Americans. What started at one campus soon grew to many more campuses across America and now CORE is in Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Canada. They have one of the most interactive web sites of the civil right’s groups and can be visited at http://core-online.org/index.htm. In what year was CORE founded?

This person was called has been described as the "Henry Ford of Free Electron Laser Technology." Although he grew up in poverty, like many other great achievers of his time, Earl D. Shaw didn’t let his father’s rebellious ways hinder him. He didn’t stop having a dream because his mother and father were sharecroppers. He didn’t give up just because he school “had just three rooms, and his teachers did not have degrees.” He did the best he could by using what little education he was given, and he achieved, going on to “Crane Technical High School in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of twelve due to excellent achievement test grades.” He didn’t stop. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois; a Master of Arts degree from Dartmouth College; and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkley. “Dr Shaw had an extensive and fulfilling education in the field of physics even though his school aptitude files stated, "This student should be discouraged from studying physics." He became the first African-American research scientist for Bell Labs in Morristown, New Jersey. He spent 10 years developing the “fist free electron laser. In 1985 he patented something but lost the patent in 1993 “due to failure to pay maintenance fees. What was it called?

Another quick tidbit about Little Richard to give your mind a break from the heavy scientific stuff in the previous paragraph. Like most performers, Little Richard had to begin performing in some club to get his break. What was the name of that club? Hint: it goes with time!

This person was a football coach who “spent 56 years as the head college football coach at” an HBCU. He became established “as the winningest coach in college football history, becoming the first coach to record 400 wins. Maybe he didn’t get picked to get a big contract at a larger college or university due to an “era of segregation in the American South,” his talent was “praised by many white coaches especially by that of Alabama coach Bear Bryant.” Who was he?

Since that one was pretty easy, here is one a little harder: Who was the first African American coach in the Canadian Football League? Yea, thank you Canadians!

Okay, some of you know about Lorraine Hansberry and her play Raisin in the Sun, but what award did she receive due to that play?

The last person I will mention in this “tidbit” left a legacy that involved the Pullman porters and many other workers who worked hard but received little pay. This man left an institute that even helped me when I ran for the school board in Bakersfield. In what city is The Phillip Randolph Institute located?

Look for the answers in the next issue of: “Today’s Information on African American History!”

Credits:
The BlacFax Trivia Game
http://www.core-online.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.millville.org/lakeside/afamsci/mikej.html

Next time: Elijah Muhammad, Dr. James Derham, Richard Penniman, Cleveland Indians, Shirley Graham, and “Famous Amos”!

You need to check out this web site…it may blow your mind: http://www.freemaninstitute.com/RTGseminar.htm

And, here are some more:
www.Black101.com
www.BlackChurchMissions.org
www.RosettaStoneReplicas.com

DID YOU KNOW? There is another resource to help you learn more about Black History?
Check out: www.yenoba.com
And another? Check out: http://www.blackhistorypages.net/index.php

SPECIAL NOTE:
Leave a legacy for future generations by helping to restore an armory for the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in 2010. Less than $4 million is needed for the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum to restore the historic Houston Light Guard Armory (1925). Buy a brick for $100 or $500 or $1,000 or $2,500 or $5,000. Have your name added in their “Legacy of Fame” hall. Get your NFL, NBA, or other professional sports relative to invest $1 million or more and thus give back to future generations by having a hall or room named after them. Get your relative in entertainment to donate $1 million or more and thus leave a legacy that will outlive them by having space dedicated to them.

Contact Ed Udell @ 832-216-7786 for your next speaker at your church conferences, youth meetings, community events, or for diversity programs, teaching writing grant writing, and/or teaching others about health/nutrition, and help for senior citizens.