Saturday, February 23, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
What if There Were No Black People in the World
This is a story of a little boy named Michael, who woke up one morning and asked his mother, "Mom, what if there were no Black people in the world?"
Well, his mother thought about that for a moment, and then said, "Son, follow me around today and let's just see what it would be like if there were no Black people in the world." Mom said, "now go got dressed and we will get started."
Michael ran to his room to put on his clothes, and shoes. His mother took one look at him and said, “Michael, where are your shoes, and those clothes are all wrinkled, son. I must iron them.” But when she reached for the ironing board, it was no longer there. You see, Sarah Boone, a black woman, invented the ironing board and Jan E. Matzwlinger, a black man, invented the shoe-lacing machine. "Oh well," she said, "please go and do something with your hair."
Michael ran to the room to comb his hair, but the comb was not there. You see, Walter Sammons, a black man, invented the comb.
Michael decided to just brush his hair, but the brush was gone. You see Lydia O. Newman, a black female, invented the brush.
Well, this was a sight, no shoes, wrinkled clothes, hair a mess, even Mom's hair, without the hair care inventions of Madam C. J. Walker, well you get the picture.
Mom told Michael, "let's do our chores around the house and then take a trip to the grocery store." Michael's job was to sweep the floor. He swept and swept and swept. When he reached for the dustpan, it was not there. You see, Lloyd P. Ray, a black man, invented the dustpan. So he swept his pile of dirt over in the corner and left it there. He then decided to mop the floor, but the mop was gone. You see, Thomas W. Stewart invented the mop.
Michael yelled to this Mom, "Mom, I' m not having any luck." "Well son," she said, "let me finish washing these clothes and we will prepare a list for the grocery store." When the wash finished, she went to place the clothes in the dryer, but it was not there. You see, George T. Sammon, a black man, invented the clothes dryer.
Mom asked Michael to go get a pencil and some paper to prepare their list for the market. So Michael ran for the paper and pencil but noticed the pencil lead was broken. Well, he was out luck because Hon Love, a black man, invented the pencil sharpener. Mom reached for a pen, but it was not there because William Purvis, a black man, invented the fountain pen.
They made their way over to the car and found that it just wouldn't go. You see, Richard Spikes, a black man, invented the automatic gearshift and Joseph Gammel invented the supercharger system. They noticed that a few cars that were moving were running into each other and having wrecks because there were no traffic signals. You see, Garrett A. Margan, a black man, invented the traffic light.
Well, it was getting late, so they walked to the market,
got their groceries and returned home. Just when they were about to put away the milk, eggs and butter, they noticed the refrigerator was gone. You see, Hon Standard, a black man, invented the refrigerator. So the just left the "FOOD" on the counter.
By this time, Mike noticed he was getting mighty cold. Mom went to turn up the heat, and what do you know. Alice Parker, a black female, invented the heating furnace. Even in the summertime they would have been out of luck because Frederick Jones, a black man, invented the air conditioner.
It was almost time for Mike's father to arrive home. He usually takes the bus. But there was no bus because its precursor was the electric trolley, invented by another black man, Elbert R. Robinson.
He usually takes the elevator from his office on the 20th floor, but there was no elevator because Alexander Miles, a black man, invented the elevator.
He usually dropped off the office mail at a nearby mailbox, but it was no longer there because Philip Downing, a black man, invented the letter drop mailbox and William Barry invented the postmarking and canceling machine.
Mike and his mother sat at the kitchen table with their head in their hands. When the father arrived he asked, "Why are you sitting in the dark?" Why? Because Lewis Howard Latimer, a black man, invented the filament within the light bulb.
Mike quickly learned what it would be like if there were no black people in the world. Not to mention if he were ever sick and needed blood. Charles Drew, a black scientist, found a way to preserve and store blood, which led to his starting the world's first blood bank.
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."
What If Black People Did Not Exist???
1. If it weren't for a black man, your home would probably be super dusty because you wouldn't have a dustpan.
Lloyd P. Ray invented the tool that makes it so much easier to dispose of trash. He improved the earlier model by making it able to stand.
2. And you wouldn't have anything to iron your wrinkly clothes on if it weren't for the black woman who invented the ironing board.
Sarah Boone patented this universal household item.
3. And wouldn't your pool parties suck without a Super Soaker?
Lonnie G. Johnson, a black man, invented one of the most popular toys from your childhood.
4. Your floors would be sticky and icky if it weren't for the guy who created the mop.
Thomas W. Stewart improved upon the mop originally patented by Jacob Howe.
5. How terrible would it be to not have a place to keep your leftovers from going bad? Good thing someone made the refrigerator.
John Standard is the guy to thank for this since he improved the original version.
6. Imagine how terrifying it'd be to take an elevator without doors? Good thing someone made automatic elevator doors a thing.
Alexander Miles is responsible for that.
7. And you probably already knew a black man created one of the first traffic lights, right?
Garrett Morgan did it.
8. That same man also invented the gas mask.
9. Also, wouldn't it be horrible to wake up without a way to get your luscious locks in order? Thank goodness for heated combs.
Shout-out to Walter Sammons for creating an improved version of the heated comb.
10. Good thing a black man gifted the world with potato chips.
George Crum is said to be responsible for creating everyone's favorite snack.
11. Imagine how unkempt your lawn would look without a sprinkler.
Joseph H. Smith was the mastermind who updated this invention.
12. Oh, and a black man created the modern lawnmower, too.
John Burr made one of the first with a rotary blade.
13. The first home security system was patented by a black woman.
You can sleep well at night knowing Marie Van Brittan Brown is responsible for making the predecessor to the modern-day home security system.
14. The black woman who created the gas heating furnace changed the way people warm their homes.
Alice Parker is the reason we can keep toasty during the winter months.
15. A PB&J just wouldn't be the same without the peanut butter. Yep, a black man is responsible for this deliciousness.
You've definitely heard of George Washington Carver, right? Of course, you have.
16. Drying clothes on a line is fun if you've got the time. Props to the hero who created the clothes dryer.
George T. Sampson received the first patent for the mechanical clothes dryer.
17. OK, and we know Thomas Edison made the light bulb, but it'd be nothing without the black man who created carbon filament.
Lewis Latimer was a genius, and also held the patent for the electric lamp.
18. People who can't drive a stick shift are definitely happy someone created the automatic gearshift.
19. Our hearts are blessed because of the guy who made the pacemaker.
20. And finally, if black people didn't exist, you probably wouldn't have been introduced to the beauty of ice cream scoops.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
Sunday, March 3, 2019, is NEA's Read Across America Day 2019. Read Across America NEA's Read Across America is
Life Changing Educators
Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School
By Janet Halfmann; illustrated by London Lad
Born into slavery, Lilly Ann secretly learned to read and write from her master’s children—and then read everything she could get her hands on. Wishing to share her knowledge with others, she secretly taught hundreds of other enslaved people despite the great risks.
Taken from https://www.readacrossamerica.org/life-changing-educators/
Apply in the Classroom
A pioneer in education, Lilly Ann Granderson faced many challenges to her efforts to teach and to encourage others to pursue education. Have students discuss what education meant to Lilly Ann and to the people who learned from her, then get students thinking about what education means to them. How do they feel about their own educational experiences? Who do they think is responsible for helping them get a good education? Have students write a letter or tribute to a teacher or someone in their lives who has helped them learn, sharing how having that knowledge has affected their lives.
Questions for Discussion or Reflective Writing
What kind of learning opportunities do you think are important?
What is your idea of a good education?
What are the most important things for a school to have?
How important is access to a good education?
Where else can you go to learn?
How does education make a difference in life?
Why is it important to protect people’s right to education?
Friday, February 15, 2019
Act of Kindness
Have you seen this poster? Isn't it adorable? You can download this and others at www.randomactsofkindness.org
Facts About the History of
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is a French word, meaning ‘Fat Tuesday’ on which people observe eating large size meals on the night before the Ash Wednesday, as fasting has to be done on that day as a part of the Lenten ritual. Mardi Gras always falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday.
Mardi Gras marks the end of carnival season and the beginning of Lent; a time of fasting.
New Orleans has been celebrating Mardi Gras since 1837. On February 24, 1857, the first parade for Mardi Gras was held in New Orleans. The Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green. Purple symbolizes justice, gold stands for power and green represent faith.
Since the 1870s the tradition of stuffed animals, beads, cups and more are thrown to the crowd from the floats in the parade.
The parade is all privately funded by krewes. The clubs that hold parades or balls at Mardi Gras are called Krewes. Once secret societies, the anonymous society members pay dues and meet to fundraise and plan the annual parades.
It is illegal to ride a Mardi Gras float in New Orleans if you're not wearing a mask. This law came into effect to allow people to associate with anyone they wanted to, without social barriers. Consequently, the masks were worn on Mardi Gras originally encouraged uniformity amongst classes and allowed everyone to forget about social status and freely socialize during this festive time.
Another tradition of Mardi is the King Cake. It is a coffee cake with cinnamon sugar, topped with purple, gold and green icing sugar. Whoever receives the piece of cake with the plastic figurine of baby Jesus, is destined to have a good year and is responsible to host next year’s Mardi Gras party.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Friday, February 8, 2019
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2019 Holiday Calendar
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January 1
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January 21
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February 2
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February 12
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February 14
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February 18
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March 5
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March 10
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March 17
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April 1
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April 19
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April 21
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April 22
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April 22
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May 5
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May 12
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May 18
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May 27
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June 9
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June 10
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June 14
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June 16
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July 4
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July 28
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September 2
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September 8
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September 11
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September 17
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September 27
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October 14
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October 16
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October 31
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November 3
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November 11
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November 28
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November 29
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December 2
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December 7
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December 25
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December 31
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