February honors African American contributions

February has been known as Black History Month since 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson and Rev. Jesse E. Moorland wanted to celebrate and remember the history, accomplishments and triumphs of Black American culture.

Woodson chose February as the month of celebration to honor Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass, both born during that month.

Cultural heritage months like Black History Month provide an opportunity to explore diverse heritages, cultures and histories.

The website biography.com provides some interesting and sometimes unusual facts about influential African Americans.

Before Wally Amos became famous for his “Famous Amos” chocolate chip cookies he was a talent agent at the William Morris Agency, working with such recording artists as The Supremes and Simon & Garfunkel.

Because of his acclaimed "Banana Boat" song, most people assume Harry Belafonte was born in the Caribbean. In fact, the internationally renowned entertainment icon and human rights activist was born in Harlem, N.Y.

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby also is an avid musician. The jazz drummer has served as master of ceremonies for a Los Angeles jazz festival off and on since 1979.

Ella Fitzgerald had a three-octave vocal range – a range greater than most professional opera singers.

Before he became a basketball legend, Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team during his sophomore year for being undersized.

The "Dee" in actor Billy Dee Williams' name is short for his middle name, "December."

The website also lists 36 Black History inventors and groundbreakers including:

  • Nathaniel Alexander, who was the first to patent the folding chair, designed for use in schools, churches and at large social gatherings.
  • Otis Boykin, who invented electronic control devices for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the control unit for a pacemaker.
  • African-American surgeon Charles R. Drew, who often is credited with inventing the first large-scale blood bank.
  • John Love, who invented the pencil sharpener in 1897.

Expanding cultural awareness is important to ITD’s evolving workforce where people from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints work together in new ways.

Published 2-1-2013