The World Without Black People

Its long but a good read

A World Without Black People This is a story of a little boy name Theo, 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 get dressed, and we will get started." Theo ran to his room to put on his clothes and shoes. His mother took one look at him and said, "Theo, where are your shoes? And those clothes are all wrinkled, son. I must iron them." However, 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. Matzelinger, a black man, invented the shoe lasting machine.

"Oh well," she said, "please go and do something to your hair." Theo ran in his room to comb his hair, but the comb was not there. You see, Walter Sammons, a black man, invented the comb.

Theo 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. Walker, well, you get the picture.

Mom told Theo, "Let's do our chores around the house and then take a trip to the grocery store." Theo'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, a black man, invented the mop. Theo yelled to his 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. Samon, a black man, invented the clothes dryer. Mom asked Theo to go get a pencil and some paper to prepare their list for the market.

So, Theo ran for the paper and pencil but noticed the pencil lead was broken. Well, he was out of luck because John 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. As a matter of fact, Lee Burridge invented the typewriting machine and W. A. Lovette the advanced printing press.

Theo and his mother decided just to head out to the market. Well, when Theo opened the door, he noticed the grass was as high as he was tall. You see, John Burr, a black man, invented the lawn mower. 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 supercharge system for internal combustion engines. They also noticed that the few cars that were moving were running into each other and having wrecks because there were no traffic signals. You see, Garrett A. Morgan, 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 John Standard, a black man, invented the refrigerator. So, they just left the food on the counter.

By this time, Theo 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 Theo'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 also usually dropped off the office mail at a near by 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.

Theo and his mother sat at the kitchen table with their heads 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.

Theo quickly learned more about what it would be like if there were no black people in the world, especially if he were ever sick and needed blood. Dr. Charles Drew, a black scientist, found a way to preserve and store blood, which led to his starting the world's first blood bank.

Well, what if a family member had to have heart surgery? This would not have been possible without Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, a black doctor, who performed the first open-heart surgery.

So, if you ever wonder, like Theo, where would we be without black people? Well, it's pretty plain to see. We would still be in the DARK!

from- The black history forum at Afrochat (http://www.afrochat.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&t=1943)

Great African Americans

Charles R. Drew was a teacher, physician and medical researcher. In the latter role, his accomplishments were nothing short of brilliant. Awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship in surgery in 1938 at Columbia University, Drew wrote a doctoral thesis entitled, "Banked Blood." In his research he discovered that by separating plasma (the liquid part of blood) from the whole blood (where the red blood cells exist) and then refrigerating them separately, blood lasted longer and was less likely to become contaminated. Drew also demonstrated that everyone has the same type of plasma; thus, in those instances where a whole blood transfusion is unnecessary, a plasma transfusion could be administered, regardless of blood type. He helped establish a blood bank at Columbia University and became the first African American to receive a Doctor of Medical Science degree from that university.

Controversy around his death:
A rumor spread in the deep south that the "Blood Doctor" died because he was refused a blood transfusion in actuality he died from the severity of his wounds suffered in a fatal car accidents April 1, 1950

from http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow/question/june04.htm

News Brief

Still with the wrap it up campaign and most people with full knowledge that there are many diseases out there that are transmitted sexually people are still having unprotect sex getting infected and within the next three months getting infected again. I guess because there is a magic pill out there it is all good.
They could not learn their lesson the first time, it happens. Instead they keep going and going and before their next oil change they have contracted the same disease. Ever heard that saying, "if you don’t learn from the past you are doomed to repeat it. " That is true in so many ways.

Well I found a website.. Sponsored by the Kinsey Institute they give out free condoms. Enjoy
http://www.condoms4free.com/

The Article from Yahoo News

Many STD patients reinfected within months By Amy Norton Mon Oct 16, 8:53 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many patients who are treated for chlamydia infection, vaginal trichomoniasis or gonorrhea are infected again within months, U.S. researchers reported Monday. The findings, they say, suggest that anyone diagnosed chlamydia infection or gonorrhea should return to their doctor in three months to be re-tested.People can't rely on symptoms to tell them they're infected, said study leader Dr. Thomas A. Peterman, a researcher with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."These infections are often asymptomatic," Peterman told Reuters Health. "and that's why we need to do re-screening."His team's findings, to be published in Tuesday's issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, are based on the evaluation of 2,419 patients seen at one of three urban STD clinics. The men were diagnosed with either chlamydial infection or gonorrhea, while the women had one of these STDs or infection with vaginal trichomoniasis.Peterman and his colleagues followed the patients for one year, re-testing them for each of these STDs every three months.They found that 25.6 percent of the women developed a new infection during the follow-up period -- sometimes with the same STD, sometimes with one of the other two. Among the men, 14.7 percent developed a new chlamydia or gonorrhea infection.The risk of reinfection was high at the first three-month screening, the study found, and it remained so for the entire one-year follow-up.Right now, the CDC recommends that women diagnosed with chlamydia be re-screened three months later. The new findings suggest men should follow similar advice, according to Peterman. They also support routine re-testing of men and women with gonorrhea.Although women with trichomoniasis were at risk of repeat STD infection, Peterman said he was "a little more hesitant" to recommend routine re-testing in these cases. Past studies have yielded similar findings when it comes to chlamydia and gonorrhea, he explained, but the overall evidence is not as strong for trichomoniasis.Of men and women who did develop new STD infections during the study, two thirds had no symptoms when diagnosed. So people should not assume they don't need repeat testing because they feel fine, according to Peterman.The high risk of reinfection in the study also points to a need for greater STD prevention, the study authors say. An important step is for infected individuals' partners to be tested."It's critical that your partner also gets treated," Peterman said.He also advised that people diagnosed with an STD "think about" their sexual behavior -- whether they have multiple partners or have unprotected sex, for example -- and make changes that can lower their infection risk.

Word of the Day

ken \KEN\, noun:
1. Perception; understanding; knowledge.
2. The range of vision.3. View; sight.
He was to make several important discoveries, the most significant being that infantile paralysis was caused not by germs, as cerebrospinal meningitis had been, but by a mysterious agent just then emerging into the ken of science.-- James Thomas Flexner, Maverick's Progress

Today in Black History

October 20
NC Mutual Life Insurance Company organized, 1898

Blackground:
Headquartered in Durham, NC, it was one of the first Black owned insurance companies in America. Charles Spaulding was the African-American business leader who built NCM’s legacy. Honoring there past, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company (NCM) has created The Heritage Room to preserve and document the rich history of the company. Located on the twelfth floor of the home office building, the Heritage Room is a pictorial exhibit containing 33 panels that chronicle the company's first 100 years.

If you didnt know, now you do

Jim Crow laws and etiquette.
To violate this racial etiquette placed one's very life, and the lives of one's family, at risk.

1. Blacks were expected to refer to white males in positions of authority as "Boss" or "Cap'n" -- a title of respect that replaced "Master" or "Marster" used in slave times.

2. All black men, on the other hand, were called by their first names or were referred to as "Boy," "Uncle," and "Old Man" -- regardless of their age. If the white person did not personally know a black person, the term "nigger" or "nigger-fellow," might be used.

3. This practice of addressing blacks by words that denoted disrespect or inferiority reduced the black person to a non-person, especially in newspaper accounts. In reporting incidents involving blacks, the press usually adopted the gender-neutral term "Negro," thus designating blacks as lifeless and unknown persons.

4. Usually it was expected that blacks would step off the sidewalk when meeting whites or else walk on the outer street side of the walk thereby "giving whites the wall." Under no circumstances could a black person assume an air of equality with whites. Black men were expected to remove their caps and hats when talking with a white person.

5. Blacks and whites were not expected to eat together in public.

6. The white owners of clothing stores did not allow blacks to try on clothing as a general rule, fearing that white customers would not buy clothes worn by African Americans.

7. Many public places, parks, and entertainment centers excluded blacks altogether after 1890, frequently by law if not by custom.

8. The color line and the codes of racial etiquette were also strictly observed in public hospitals, with separate wards for whites and blacks. Black nurses were allowed to minister to whites but not the other way round. If a black person needed an ambulance, for example, a private, black-owned-and-operated wagon or auto would have to be obtained.

These are just a few of the rule that were law enforced in the Jim Crow Era

Bush Signs Military Commissions Bill

Why would he do something like this. He is taking away so many rights, a majority of the people that would be effected are black. This is why it is so important to vote Do not vote if you are not going to read up on the candidates.

“The president can now - with the approval of Congress - indefinitely hold people without charge, take away protections against horrific abuse, put people on trial based on hearsay evidence, authorize trials that can sentence people to death based on testimony literally beaten out of witnesses, and slam shut the courthouse door for habeas petitions. Nothing could be further from the American values we all hold in our hearts than the Military Commissions Act.”Source: Hat Tip to Talk Left.com
President Bush today signed into law S. 3930, the Military Commissions Act of 2006.
The ACLU has issued a statement calling the law “one of the worst civil liberties measures ever enacted in American history.”

Great African Americans

Henry Louis "Hank" Aaron (born February 5, 1934) is a retired American baseball player and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Aaron is best known for setting the Major League record for most home runs in a career (755), surpassing the previous mark of 714 held by Babe Ruth. Aaron also holds the career marks for runs batted in (2,297), extra base hits (1,477) and total bases (6,856). He won one World Series ring with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, and the National League Most Valuable Player Award the same year. He also earned three Gold Glove Awards and made 24 All-Star appearances.

The N Word

When Mark Twain's famous novel, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," was published in 1884, readers didn't blink an eye at the liberal use of the word "******."One hundred years after its publication, it began being pulled off of school bookshelves and removed from curriculum -- all because of that dirty little word. Some parents argue the word isn't fit for young eyes. Defenders, though, maintain that the book's overwhelmingly anti-racist plot -- about a white boy, Huck, and his adult friend, Jim, a runaway slave -- make it a worthwhile read for everyone. But the time Huckleberry Finn lived in was much different than the one we live in now. Back then, "******" was a household word. Say it in today's politically correct world and it's going to stir emotions. Arguably, no other word in history has caused so much pain and controversy. So should we still use it today? Understanding its originIn his 2002 book, "******: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word," black Harvard Law School professor Randall Kennedy explores that question. According to Kennedy, a person who is ignorant of the meanings and effects of the n-word is endangered. He wrote that the term is derived from "niger," the Latin word for the color, black. In the United States, the word was not originally considered derogatory, but merely denotative of black, as it was in much of the world. In 19th century American literature, such as with Huck Finn, there were many uses of the term with no intended negative connotation, Kennedy writes in his book. The perception of the n-word as derogatory is related to the fact that the Negro race was -- and still is by some whites -- regarded as inferior. During U.S. slavery, white slave owners further dehumanized their slaves by calling them "niggers." And because they wouldn't respectfully call blacks by their names, whites continued to use the word during the Jim Crow days. After the Civil Rights era in the 1960s, the word became taboo as blacks started to gain more privileges in America, and whites became more engulfed in black culture. Over the years, "******" was replaced with "Negro," and then "Afro-American," and later "black," before today's politically correct term, "African-American.” The late Richard Pryor used the word freely during his comedy shows during the 1970s, perhaps in an attempt to take the sting out of it, Kennedy notes. Why, his 1974 Grammy award-winning album was even called, "That ******'s Crazy." But after a trip to Africa in 1980, a newly enlightened Pryor vowed to never say the n-word again, Kennedy writes.For blacks onlyWillie Dixon, 74, of Momence, has always considered the word "extremely insulting" -- but only when it's used by whites. He understands why blacks frequently use the term today, however. Dixon, who teaches African-American history at Kankakee Community College, said blacks have endured a history of overt racism and discrimination in America. As time passed, and African-Americans gained more rights, he said blacks started using the word to take power away from whites who used it to break their spirits. For instance, blacks commonly greeted each other by saying, "What's up, nigga?" using it in place of the word "brother" or "friend." This helped promote unity among blacks."(Whites) don't share our intimacy. There are certain privileges that blacks have among themselves that outsiders don't have," Dixon said, referring to the use among blacks. Blacks also have turned the slur into a term for adoration and respect. Dixon gave the example of calling Michael Jordan "a bad ******," meaning a great black person on the basketball court. But not all blacks believe it should be used so casually.Thesley Beverly of Hopkins Park believes that blacks who were burned and lynched while fighting for freedom and equality, would "turn over in their graves" if they heard African-American people call each other niggers.A change of mindAs a teen, Rashad Marshall, 26, of Kankakee, who's black, said he used to call his black friends, "my niggas." But since he's matured, he now refers to them as "my brothers.” Marshall also wanted to avoid the hassles of worrying about using the word in mixed company. Typically, he said it's all right for non-blacks to use the word if they have a "ghetto pass" -- meaning they're "accepted" because of their understanding and embracing of black culture. But if a non-black should use the n-word in a derogatory context, watch out -- the dividing lines aren't always so clear. Jennifer Lopez used the word in one of her songs, "I'm Real." But it was used in its casual, least racially charged form. Perhaps her growing up in Bronx, N.Y., around blacks made her feel at ease with the word. Yet, white rapper Eminen said he's never felt comfortable using the n-word, reports a 2004 Rolling Stones article. Despite being immersed in popular black culture, he just won't cross that line.A double standard?Marshall understands that not using the n-word can be difficult for non-blacks -- particularly white teens, the biggest consumers of today's rap music -- because the word is tossed all over many hip hop albums. But the double standard will always exist, Marshall said: Blacks can say it; whites can’t. Amanda Butts of Kankakee, who's white, learned this the hard way. Several years ago, she unintentionally offended one of her black girlfriends by nonchalantly using the term.” I stopped using the word because I knew I was hurting her, and I didn't want to hurt anyone else," said Butts, 15.Because "people can always take it the wrong way," Butts said she wishes the word could be banished from our vocabulary altogether. Dennis Kent, 62, of Kankakee, thinks otherwise. Kent, a Caucasian, dislikes the term and feels no one should use it negatively toward blacks. But eliminating it from history books, dictionaries and other reading materials is far-fetched. The word is too powerful in American history to be wiped out of our minds altogether, he said. If it were eradicated, perhaps we'll forget the history so entwined in those letters. Professor Dixon feels the same way."(The n-word) is here to stay -- whether people accept it or not. It will always be with us," Dixon said.Written By Antonio Young of the Daily Journal

News Brief

NEWS BRIEFS First Black West Point Commander Dies In Iraq Sept. 27, 2006 - The nation is mourning the death of Lt Emily Perez, 23, the first Black woman to serve as corps commander sergeant major at West Point. Perez, who graduated in the top 10 percent of her class, out-ran many men, directed a gospel choir, read the Bible every day. She also headed a weekly convoy as it rolled down treacherous roads, pocked with bombs and bullets near Najaf, Iraq. As platoon leader, she insisted on leading her troops from the front. She died Sept. 12 when a bomb detonated near her Humvee in Kifl, south of Baghdad. Shortly before shipping out to Iraq with the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, she flew cross-country to be a bone marrow donor for a stranger who was a match. She was the 64th woman from the U.S. military to be killed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Word of the Day

qua \KWAY; KWAH\, preposition:
In the capacity or character of; as.

This might be thought a decisive objection to a federal judge's writing about this subject even if the judge writes qua academic rather than qua judge.-- Richard A. Posner, An Affair of State

Today in Black History

October 19
US Navy opened to Black women, 1944
Henry O Tanner, painter, won Medal of Honor at Paris Exposition, 1900
Byrd Prillerman, co-founder of West Virginia State College, born 1859


Background
Henry Ossawa Tanner (June 21, 1859–May 25, 1937) was an African American artist who studied with Thomas Eakins. Tanner was the first African American painter to reach international acclaim.

Negrophile

One who admires and supports Black people and their culture

When I come across good websites so do you...

www.negrophile.com

Today in Black History

October 18
Paul Robeson won Spingarn Medal for his singing and acting achievements, 1945

Paul Robeson (April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American actor, athlete, bass-baritone concert singer, writer, civil rights activist, Spingarn Medal winner, and Stalin peace prize laureate.

Word of the Day

While we are on this journey to grow together I would like to daily add a word to our vocabulary. It may be a word you know our not but regardless it is exposure and thats all it takes to spread knowledge.

em‧pow‧er
–verb (used with object)
1.
to give power or authority to; authorize, esp. by legal or official means: I empowered my agent to make the deal for me. The local ordinance empowers the board of health to close unsanitary restaurants.
2.
to enable or permit: Wealth empowered him to live a comfortable life.

Does this paint a postive picture of black people to you

This is what the experts at About.com say about the current issues of black people, does it seem gloom of it is just me?

Most African Americans have significantly improved their social and economic standing since the Civil Rights Movement, and recent decades have witnessed the expansion of a vibrant, African American middle class across the United States. However, because of the disproportionate sizes of the working and lower classes, collectively, African Americans remain at an economic, educational and social disadvantage relative to whites. Economically, the median income of African Americans is roughly 55% that of whites. Persistent social, economic and political issues for many African Americans include inadequate healthcare access and delivery; institutional racism and discrimination in housing, education, policing, criminal justice and employment; crime; poverty; and substance abuse. African Americans are frequently the targets of racial profiling. They are also more likely to be incarcerated. African Americans also have higher prevalence of some chronic health conditions relative to the general population. These problems and potential remedies have been the subject of intense public policy debate in the United States in general, and within the African American community in particular.

This is why I started a blog

Today I came across article and I decided I like most of us need to do something to empower black people. We are slipping and I want to take a step (because I know I am not alone) to make things better.

This blogg is dedicated to black people everywhere

Here is the article:

The sad thing about this article is that the essence of it is true. The truth hurts. I just hope this sets more Black people in motion towards making real progress. Chris Rock, a Black comedian, even joked that Blacks don't read.For those of you who did not hear it on the radio, this is the article Dee Lee was reading this morning on a New York radio station. This is a heavy piece and a Caucasian wrote it.THEY ARE STILL OUR SLAVESWe can continue to reap profits from the Blacks without the effort of physical slavery. Look at the current methods of containment that they use on themselves: IGNORANCE, GREED, and SELFISHNESS.Their IGNORANCE is the primary weapon of containment. A great man oncesaid, "The best way to hide something from Black people is to put it in a book." We now live in the Information Age. They have gained the opportunity to read any book on any subject through the efforts of their fight for freedom, yet they refuse to read. There are numerous books readily available at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com, not to mention their own Black Bookstores that provide solid blueprints to reach economic equality (which should have been their fight all along), but few read consistently, if at all.GREED is another powerful weapon of containment. Blacks, since the abolition of slavery, have had large amounts of money at their disposal. Last year they spent 10 billion dollars during Christmas, out of their 450 billion dollars in total yearly income (2.22%).Any of us can use them as our target marke t, for any business venture wecare to dream up, no matter how outlandish, they will buy into it. Beingprimarily a consumer people, they function totally by greed. They continually want more, with little thought for saving or investing.They would rather buy some new sneaker than invest in starting a business. Some even neglect their children to have the latest Tommy or FUBU, And they still think that having a Mercedes, and a big house gives them "Status" or that they have achieved their Dream.They are fools! The vast majority of their people are still in poverty because their greed holds them back from collectively making better communities.With the help of BET, and the rest of their black media that often broadcasts destructive images into their own homes, we will continue to see huge profits like those of Tommy and Nike. (Tommy Hilfiger has even jeered them, saying he doesn't want their money, and look at how the fools spendmore with him than ever bef ore!). They'll continue to show off to each other while we build solid communities with the profits from our businesses that we market to them.SELFISHNESS, ingrained in their minds through slavery, is one of the majorways we can continue to contain them. One of their own, Dubois said thatthere was an innate division in their culture. A "Talented Tenth" he called it. He was correct in his deduction that there are segments of their culture that has achieved some "form" of success. However, that segment missed the fullness of his work. They didn't read that the "Talented Tenth" was then responsible to aid The Non-Talented Ninety Percent in achieving a better life. Instead, that segment has created another class, a Buppie class that looks down on their people or aids them in a condescending manner. They will never achieve what we have. Their selfishness does not allow them to be able to work together on any project or endeavor of substance. When they do get together, their selfishness lets their egos get in the way of their goal. Their so-called help organizations seem to only want to promote their name without making any real change in their community.They are content to sit in conferences and conventions in our hotels, andtalk about what they will do, while they award plaques to the best speakers,not to the best doers. Is there no end to their selfishness? They steadfastly refuse to see that TOGETHER EACH ACHIEVES MORE (TEAM)They do not understand that they are no better than each other because ofwhat they own, as a matter of fact, most of those Buppies are but one or two pay checks away from poverty. All of which is under the control of our pens in our offices and our rooms. Yes, we will continue to contain them as long as they refuse to read, continue to buy anything they want, and keep thinking they are "helping" their communities by paying dues to organizations which do little other than hold lavish conventions in our hotels. By the way, don't worry about any of them reading this letter, remember, 'THEY DON'T READ!!!!(Prove them wrong. Please pass this on! After Reading it..)Lets prove the person that wrote this article wrong. Make your dreams come true and dont just do it for the money, clothes, or BIG house. Do it for all of your ancestors who fight and died for you to have the right to become successful