Black history month

African-Americans have gone through many hardships and trials in America. However, they didn’t let our rudeness or unfairness stop them from helping, changing, or entertaining the U. S. In 1926 Dr. Carver G Woodson created Negro History Week to honor African Americans who contributed to the United States in some way, shape, or form. It was a week of giving thanks to those who helped shape America. This week honored inventors, congressmen, doctors, lawyers, even entertainers. Woodson picked the second week of February to celebrate these accomplishments because it fell near the birthdays of two very important people who helped shape African-American history. These people were former President Abraham Lincoln and former slave Frederick Douglass. Later, because there were so many African-Americans to honor that was too much to acknowledge in one week, it was changed to Black History Month. This is known as a month of remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States in the month of February. Black History Month honors many contributors to America including many inventors. Otis Boykin for instance invented many electronic control devices. One of his early inventions was an improved electrical resistor for computers, radios and televisions, but his most famous invention was a control unit for the artificial heart pacemaker. The device used electrical impulses to maintain a regular heartbeat. Another inventor who changed America for the better was Dr. Patricia E. Bath. Dr. Bath invented a type of surgery to help blind people see clearer. Garrett Morgan also helped modern U. S with his inventions of the gas mask and traffic signal. He also invented something that is extremely popular for girls today which was a hair-straightening preparation. There are many others as well such as Granville Woods also know as “ Black Edison”, George Washington Carver; inventor of just about everything we currently do with peanuts, Lewis Latimer, Jan Matzeliger, and Elijah McCoy. Who helps people more than those in the medical field? This includes all doctors, nurses and surgeons that helped shape and save our country. For example, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams was the first African-American cardiologist. Dr. Hale was also the first doctor to successfully operate on a human heart in 1893. Dr. Charles R. Drew was the head surgeon at Howard University and dedicated his life to the study of blood. He researched in the field of blood transfusions, and developed improved techniques for blood storage. He developed large blood banks in World War II, which saved the lives of thousands of Allied forces. In 1943, his hard work paid off when he became the first black surgeon to serve as an examiner on the American Board of Surgery. There were also poets, authors, singers, and talk-show hosts who have entertained us with their gifts. Maya Angelou; a talented novelist, poet and stage/screen writer recited her poem ” On the Pulse of Morning” at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. Ms. Angelou is also known as ” America’s most visible black female autobiographer”. She is known because of her harsh and honest writings. Another entertainer was Marian Anderson; an opera singer and the first African-American to sing at the New York Metropolitan Opera. She helped break the color barrier in the arts. Then, of course is Oprah Winfrey: a talk show host who motivates both young and old. Oprah is an American television host, producer, and philanthropist. She has also been ranked the richest African American of the 20th century and beyond, the greatest black philanthropist in American history, and was once the world’s only black billionaire. There are others such as Alex Haley (author), Louis Armtrong (musician), and Ed Bradley (TV show journalist). As you can see, Dr. Woodson was right when he proposed to honor the African-Americans who contributed to our country not only technologically and medically, but in the entertainment business too. Of course there are the political leaders like Barack Obama and Barbara Jordan lawyers such as Marian Edelman and Thurgood Marshall whose deeds shouldn’t be forgotten either. They have all made changes to the United States for the better to making everyday living more efficient, healthy, and entertaining. We haven’t always been “ nice” to them either. We kept them as slaves and segregated them from our everyday rituals. African-Americans have gone through many hardships and trials in America. However, they didn’t let our rudeness or unfairness stop them from helping, changing, or entertaining the U. S. They should be applauded and recognized.