February is Black History Month
July 10, 2007, 05:37 PM
Success is to be measured, not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.
- Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
Black History Month often focuses on black inventors. Some notable black inventors: In 1962, Dr. James West of Bell Labs co-invented the foil-electret microphone with Gerhard Sessler. Almost 90 percent of all microphones built today are based on their work. Andrew Beard patented a rotary engine in 1892 and in 1897, he patented an improvement to railroad car couplers, commonly called the Jenny Coupler, which did the dangerous job of hooking railroad cars together. The ironing board was invented by Sarah Boone in 1887. Otis Boykin invented an improved electrical resistor used in computers, radios, television sets, and a variety of electronic devices. Boykin's resistor helped reduce the cost of those products. Charles Brooks invented the first street sweeper truck. George Washington Carver invented peanut butter. George Carruthers invented the spectrograph. In 1989, Philip Emeagwali developed the fastest supercomputer software in the world. Frederic Jones invented the first automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks. Garrett Morgan invented the gas mask and the automatic traffic signal. And where would we be today without Lonnie Johnson's invention: the Super Soaker!
Black musicians and song writers have had a huge influence on music, especially in the blues genre. Some of the more well known blues artists: B.B. King, Freddie King (no relation), Albert King (no relation), Albert Collins, Junior Walker, Buddy Guy, Robert Johnson, T-bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Bessie Smith, Willie Dixon, and the list goes on.
Willie Dixon was a prolific songwriter and penned some well know songs such as 29 Ways, Back Door Man, Big Boss Man, Bring It On Home, Close To You, Evil, Hoochie Coochie Man, I Ain't Superstitious, I Can't Quit You Baby, I Just Want To Make Love To You, and many more. Many of Dixon's songs have been recorded by popular groups such as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppilin, Grateful Dead, Foghat, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and The Doors.
Rock music has its origins in the blues. Country music merged with the blues in the early '50s to form rockabilly, which evolved into rock-and-roll by the late '50s.
History will be made on February 4th with the first black professional football head coach to make it all the way to the Super Bowl. What makes the occasion even more momentous is that both teams playing have black head coaches. Chicago Bear's coach Lovie Smith became the first black head coach to make it to the Super Bowl when his team won the NFC title. About four hours later, his friend and mentor, Tony Dungy, joined him there when his Indianapolis Colts took the AFC title.
