Archives for February 2021

Gladys Mae West (Born 1930/31 in Sutherland, Virginia) is an American mathematician who is known for her contributions to the mathematical modeling of the shape of the earth and her work on the development of satellite geodesy models that were eventually incorporated into the Global Positioning System aka, GPS.

Gladys Mae West not only overcame the oppression of discrimination and segregation, she majored in mathematics and along with other women of the times dispel the myth that women are not good in Math. Whether you’re a pilot, soldier, driver, fisherman, golfer or in any other profession that uses GPS, we have Gladys Mae West and her team to thank for developing the foundation of the Global Positioning System (GPS). [Read more…]

James Zwerg was born in Appleton, Wisconsin where he lived with his parents and older brother, Charles. His father was a dentist who provided free dental care to the poor on one day per month. He was very active in school and took part in student protests in high school.

On Mother’s Day May 14th 1961, a group of Freedom Riders were traveling by bus from Washington DC to New Orleans. They were met an angry white mob in Anniston, Alabama who attacked the bus with baseball bats and iron pipes. Rather than stopping, the bus driver continued past the bus station however the angry mob followed the bus in their cars then slashed the tires and a fire bomb was thrown into the bus. [Read more…]

Carter Godwin Woodson (December 19, 1875 – April 3, 1950) was born in New Canton, Virginia, the son of former slaves Anne Eliza (Riddle) and James Henry Woodson. His parents were both illiterate and his father, who had helped the Union soldiers during the Civil War, supported the family as a carpenter and farmer. His parents told him that it was the happiest day of their lives when they became free.

From his humble beginnings, Carter G. Woodson grew to become an American historian, author, journalist, and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. He was one of the first scholars to study the history of the African diaspora, including African-American history. A founder of The Journal of Negro History in 1916, Carter G.Woodson has been called the “father of black history”. In February 1926 he launched the celebration of “Negro History Week”, the precursor of Black History Month.

Throughout history there has been a conscious effort to erase and/or omit black history in America. Let us all recognize and honour “Carter G. Woodson“ for his vision, courage and dedication to creating a Black History Month.

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