Newsletter # 11

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VIsion Statement:

"Engaging hands and minds through the Environment, Agriculture and Technology. "

Los Angeles Dodgers

Maury Wills (born October 2, 1932) is a former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1959 through 1966 and the latter part of 1969 through 1972 as a shortstop and switch-hitter; he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1967 and 1968, and the Montreal Expos the first part of 1969. Wills was an essential component of the Dodgers' championship teams in the mid-1960s, and is credited for reviving the stolen base as part of baseball strategy.^[1]

Wills was the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1962, stealing a record 104 bases to break the old modern era mark of 96, set by Ty Cobb in 1915. He was an All-Star for five seasons and seven All-Star Games^[2], and was the first MLB All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in 1962. He also won Gold Gloves in 1961 and 1962. In a fourteen-year career, Wills batted .281 with 20 home runs, 458 runs batted in, 2,134 hits, 1,067 runs, 177 doubles, 71 triples, 586 stolen bases and 552 bases on balls in 1,942 games. Since 2009, Wills is a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization serving as a representative of the Dodgers Legend Bureau.

In 2014, Wills appeared for the first time as a candidate on the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Golden Era Committee election ballot^[3] for possible Hall of Fame consideration in 2015 which required 12 votes. Wills missed getting elected by 3 votes.^[4]

Wills began his major league career in 1959 and played in 83 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the 1959 World Series, he played in each of the six games, hitting 5-for-20 with one stolen base and two runs in the Dodger victory. In Wills' first-full season in 1960, he hit .295 and led the league with 50 stolen bases, being the first National League player to steal 50 bases since Max Carey stole 51 in 1923. In 1962, Wills stole 104 bases to set a new MLB stolen base record, breaking the old modern era mark of 96, set by Ty Cobb in 1915.^[6] Wills also stole more bases than all of the other teams that year, the highest total being the Washington Senators' 99. Wills success in base stealing that year led to another remarkable statistic, he was caught stealing just 13 times all season. He hit .299 for the season, led the NL with 10 triples and 179 singles, and was selected the NL Most Valuable Player over Willie Mays (Mays hit .304 with 49 home runs and 141 runs batted in) by seven points. Not until Barry Larkin in 1995 would another shortstop win a National League Most Valuable Player Award. Late in that record-setting 1962 season, San Francisco Giants Manager Alvin Dark ordered grounds crews to water down the base paths, turning them into mud to hinder Wills' base-stealing attempts. Wills played a full 162 game schedule, plus all three games of the best of three regular season playoff series with the Giants, giving him a total of 165 games played, an MLB record that still stands for most games played in a single season. His 104 steals remained a Major League record for switch-hitters until 1985, when Vince Coleman eclipsed the mark with 110. In the 1963 World Series, he went 2-for-16 for a .133 batting average with one stolen base. In the 1965 World Series, he played in all seven games and went 11-for-30 with three runs and three stolen bases in a hard-fought Dodger victory, his third and last World Series title.

Heritage

Growing up, I always admired the famous baseball player, Mr. Maury Wills, for whom I was named after. I often wondered who this icon really was and why people older than me would be in awe when they saw my name. In talking with my father and realizing I was named after Maury Wills because my father actively played baseball in school and admired him too, along with the rest of the country . In addition, because he had broken so many previous baseball records and was a family member, it was even more admirable to keep the name in the family. So, I honor one of my heroes for paving the way for so many with your athletic talents. I salute you, Mr. Maury Wills.

Dr. Maury L. Wills, C.E.O.
Website: www.dekalbacademy.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeKalb.Academy
Twitter: @Dr.Willsdate
Celebrating 16 Years of "Learning with Relationships, Relevance, and Rigor"

Our "My VP Looks Like Me" poetry contest winners are Nkechi Innocent and Elizabeth Kalu.

Congratulations to both of these wonderful ladies and great work to all who participated in this contest.

My V. P. Looks Like Me

By: Nkechi Innocent 7A

My V. P. looks like me

Kamala Harris is the black V. P.

The feelings in which fluttered around

As she raised her right hand and made a sound

When she took the oath to solemnly swear

To tend to her people with love and care

To abide by the constitution

But to always Find a good solution

I say in my head with glee

My V. P. looks like me

To think of such significant time

To represent the woman of all black kind

The first black female V. P.

Has a good ring to it don’t you see

I feel that she will do the right thing

No tear ran down my eye during this momentous occasion

I feel good about her leading this nation

So we all can celebrate

Remember that day

So all black girls and woman can say in their heads

My V. P. looks like ME

My V.P. Looks Like Me

Kalu, Elizabeth 5C

1.29.2021

Long before your grandmother was young the thought of woman rights was very young

When you would say the word colored or black you knew whatever was needed wouldn't be done

Fast forward to 2021, I came to my TV screen an elegant sophisticated black woman I saw “wow!” I say. It was as if the United States of America’s bell rang

And so today she speaks out loud unabashedly, “ Women have an equal stake in our future and should have our equal voice in our politics.”

I felt cheerful there is finally someone in the office that looks like me

I felt like an electric Rush of emotion that the future of the U.S.A. would be various in the best way possible

The voice of women rights has finally grown The voice of Black rights have finally grown

And my Vice President Looks like me

Class of 2021 Presents: D. A. T. E.'s Wax Museum

6th Grade Drama Presents:

Kaitlyn Tramble, Gabriella NiBlack, & Asa Washington

Colin Rand Kaepernick is an American civil rights activist and football quarterback who is a free agent. He played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League.

The Tuskegee Experiment

In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) commissioned a program to study the effects of untreated syphilis in African American men. The research was intended to compare the long-term effects of untreated syphilis in black men as opposed to white men.

In order to recruit participants for its study, the PHS enlisted the support of the prestigious Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University), located in Macon County, Alabama. A group of 399 infected patients and 201 uninfected control patients were recruited for the program. Over the years, more participants were added to the study, so exact numbers vary. The subjects were all impoverished and mostly illiterate sharecroppers from Macon County. The original study was to last only six to nine months, but labored on for 40 years, finally ending in 1972.

Participants were already infected with syphilis but were told they were suffering from “bad blood,” a local term used to refer to a range of illnesses. Initially, treatment was a part of the study but when it did not yield much useful data, the decision was made to withdraw treatment and observe the progression of the disease in the untreated with the intent of tracking the infected individuals until their deaths.

At the outset of the study, there was no cure for syphilis. However, in 1943, penicillin became highly effective in its treatment but that treatment was denied to participants in the study. It is highly unethical and arguably illegal to deny treatment to a patient when there is a known cure for his illness. Long-term effects of untreated syphilis are damage to organs, dementia, paralysis, and death. Because of the method of transmission of this disease, it eventually spread to other segments of the population, including women and infants.

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study lasted until 1942 but ended only after the Washington Star exposed it in its July 24,1972 publication. A class-action suit against the federal government was settled out of court for $10 million in 1974, a paltry sum considering the extent of the damage to the original participants in the study, their families, and those who contracted the disease from the untreated participants. That same year the U.S. Congress passed the National Research Act, requiring institutional review boards to approve all studies involving human subjects. In 1997 President Bill Clinton issued a formal apology for the study.

While it is hard to fathom that the government of the most powerful country in the world could sanction such a heinous act, given its history against minority populations, it becomes believable. Could it be that actions such as the Tuskegee Study is a contributor to those same minority populations not trusting the coronavirus vaccines that are now on the market?

Winter Saunders

Joel Smith

The 5 reigning Queens of 2019:

Toni-Ann Singh - Miss World
Zozibini Tunzi - Miss Universe
Cheslie Kryst - Miss USA
Kaliegh Garris - Miss Teen USA
Nia Imani Franklin - Miss America

MISS USA 2020,

ASYA BRANCH

Asya Branch was crowned Miss USA 2020 and made history as the first Black Miss Mississippi, and the first Miss Mississippi to win the crown.

At 17, Asya left her hometown Booneville, Mississippi for the first time to attend summer school at Harvard University. This experience changed her life, and since then she has accepted every challenge and opportunity thrown her way while encouraging others to do the same.

Currently, Asya is a student at the University of Mississippi, and hope to work in sports marketing when she finishes her degree. She also runs her own a cosmetic line called Branch Beauty, and what started as a hobby, has now turned into a lucrative business.

Asya's father was incarcerated when she was young, and ever since, she has been an advocate for criminal justice reform. Having a strong mentality has allowed her to be a life coach and trendsetter, without second guessing herself. As the 6th of 8 siblings, Asya strives every day to set an exemplary example for her brothers and sisters.

Maritza Correia (born December 23, 1981), also known by her married name Maritza McClendon, is a former Olympic swimmer from the United States. When she qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 2004, she became the first Puerto Rican of African descent to be a member of the U.S. Olympic swimming team. She also became the first black American swimmer to set an American and world swimming record.^[2]^{{Hamilton Family}}

The Coronavirus and Vaccines: Are You Taking the Shot?

I can remember news stories early last spring about the new virus coming out of Wuhan, China that was killing scores of people. Since I am a Health teacher, it became the subject of discussion on a daily basis. Like many of you, I ignored it, thinking that there could not be much of a difference from the coronavirus to all of the other viruses that come out every other year. When it spread to Italy and the deaths quickly rose into the thousands, my attention was piqued. Roughly ten days later, the first cases were showing up in Atlanta and shortly thereafter, the country went into quarantine.

In a single year, the coronavirus has ravaged the country and “normal” is now a stranger to us. Those things that we took for granted like going to school, visiting our favorite restaurants, or going to places of worship, are all considered risky behavior. As of this writing, 515,333 people have succumbed to the coronavirus. The only viral outbreak that remotely compares to its deadly onslaught is the Spanish Flu of 1918, when one-third of the world’s population became infected, 50 million died worldwide, and 675,000 perished in the United States.

Although deaths are trending downward and there are multiple vaccines on the market, now is not the time to become complacent in thinking that we have turned the corner and the threat from the virus is over. As a society, we must continue to embrace those measures that have proven effective such as social-distancing, the wearing of masks, and frequently washing our hands.

Under normal circumstances, the creation, testing, and implementation of a vaccine usually takes 15-20 years. The vaccines that are currently on the market for Covid-19 were developed over the course of months. In the short term, they appear to be effective with an efficacy as high as 95%. Through the use of these vaccines, symptoms are lessened and the mortality rate is down. The world has such a pressing need for a vaccine to stem the waves of death and to allow the world economies to recover. Because these vaccines have been rushed into production, longitudinal studies do not exist, so there is no way of knowing the long-term effects of any of the vaccines.

More than half of US coronavirus cases are in the African-American and Hispanic communities while they make up only 32% of the population. When questioned, a higher percentage of their white counterparts are willing to take the vaccine as opposed to the aforementioned minorities. Why is this so, especially with the high incidence of the virus in our respective communities? Could it be that there are lingering effects from the Tuskegee Experiment and related “mad scientist” experiments on the downtrodden?

Joel Smith

Abundant Grace: Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson was an American actress and fashion model. In a career spanning more than seven decades, she became known for her portrayal of strong African-American women.

Mary Wilson was an American singer. She gained worldwide recognition as a founding member of The Supremes, the most successful Motown act of the 1960s and the best-charting female group in U.S. chart history, as well as one of the all-time best-selling girl groups in the world.

Amanda Gorman: Today, We honor 3 Captains.

AMANDA GORMAN, WHERE ART THOU?

Meek, thin, and unassuming are all words that may be used to describe Amanda Gorman. However, once she opens her mouth to speak, she spits lightning, roars thunder, and rains fire. Her fire cut masterfully through the pall the encompassed the Capitol complex as remnants of the failed insurrection were ever present. Her dark chocolate countenance and illuminating smile were captivating, as she held her audience in rapt attention.

Amanda Gorman was born in Los Angeles, California to a single mother who is an English teacher. Battling a speech impediment as a child and at times, immersed in a less than desirable environment, Amanda could have easily become another statistic, yet she persevered. She realized the power of words and speech at an early age, becoming poet laureate of Los Angeles as a young child and later National Youth Poet Laureate of the US. She wrote and recited her way through Harvard University, graduating cum laude in 2020. With her impeccable writing style and flawless delivery at the inauguration, Amanda catapulted herself from obscurity to fame with each word she spoke.

Her recitation of “The Hill We Climb”, a poem that she wrote for the Inauguration, offered inspiration in a world stricken with disease, bigotry, and divisiveness. Exuding a wisdom that exceeds her twenty-two years, Amanda closed out her poem by saying, “There is always light if only we are brave enough to see it, if only we are brave enough to be it.” It is this writer’s opinion that as a nation, we are at a crossroads. The society where we currently reside could easily devolve into a lawless one, where tribal affiliations are pervasive and become our new normal. Amanda is more hopeful than I, stating, “We are a nation that isn’t broken, but simply unfinished”. Her words of a better America, one that is more diverse and welcoming of all cultures and lifestyles, offer hope that can only be seen if one chooses to see it.

January 20th, 2021 was not only the day that Joe Biden was inaugurated as President of the United States, it is also the day that Amanda Gorman was introduced to the world, cementing herself into the very fabric of society. She is known now not only a poet laureate; but also, as an author, and an activist. She is quickly proving herself to be a force to be reckoned with, and this at a time when African-American women are lifting and leading their communities. Step aside ladies, Amanda Gorman is on her way!

Joel Smith

As of 2013, I am the only person and the first African American in my hometown to receive my very own day awarded to me by the mayor, State Senate, and House of Representatives In Alabama. June 1st is officially Daryll Blakely in my hometown.

Jamaica native Barrington made history as the first black pilot and youngest person to fly solo around the world and has since founded an organization dedicated to encouraging Miami's youth to pursue STEM-related careers.

Barrington Antonio Irving, Jr., C.D. (born November 11, 1983) was the youngest person to pilot a plane around the world solo, a feat he accomplished in 2007. He is also the first black person and first Jamaican to accomplish this feat. As of 2007, he was an aerospace student at Florida Memorial University. His airplane, a Columbia 400 (Cessna Corvalis 400), is named the "Inspiration", and was manufactured and assembled by the Columbia Aircraft Mfg. Co. in 2005, classified as a standard aircraft in the utility category using over $300,000 in donated parts.

Irving was born in Kingston, Jamaica and grew up in Miami, Florida.[12] He is a graduate of Miami Northwestern Senior High School. Irving turned down multiple football scholarship offers with his sights set on aviation. He later founded Experience Aviation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering minority youth to pursue careers in aviation. His airplane, the "Inspiration", has been registered to Experience Aviation since 2.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

First Black Female FEDERAL Judge, Constance Baker Motley

Research scientist Jane Hinton was born on May 1, 1919 in Canton, Massachusetts. Her mother, Ada (Hawes) Hinton, was a former teacher, and her father, William Augustus Hinton, was a bacteriologist and one of the most prominent African American medical researchers of his era. In the 1920s, he developed a test for syphilis that was widely used until newer methods were developed after World War II. Augustus Hinton was the first African American to teach at Harvard Medical School and to write a medical textbook.

Rep. Barbara Charline Jordan was an American lawyer, educator, orator and politician, who was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. A Democrat, she was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and the first Southern African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives.

Jemele Juanita Hill (born 1975)^[2] is an American sports journalist who writes for The Atlantic. She worked nearly 12 years for sports conglomerate ESPN. She wrote a column for ESPN.com's Page 2 and formerly hosted ESPN's His and Hers. In June 2013, she succeeded Jalen Rose on ESPN2's Numbers Never Lie. In February 2017, Hill and Michael Smith became co-hosts of SC6, the 6 p.m. (ET) edition of ESPN's flagship SportsCenter. Hill remained in that role until February 2018, when ESPN moved her to their website, The Undefeated. She joined The Atlantic in October 2018.

Clive Terrelonge (born 30 June 1969) was a track coach at the University of Connecticut. Before coaching, he was an accomplished collegiate and professional athlete who specialized in the 800m and 400m.

Terrelonge was twice an Olympian for Jamaica, competing in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and in 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships, Terrelonge became the first Jamaican to win a World Championship gold medal in the 800 metres.

While competing for Lincoln University (Pennsylvania), Terrelonge earned 19 Division III All-America honors in the 400m, 800m and the 4x400-meter relay. He is a former NCAA double 400 and triple 800-meter indoor/outdoor champion and held the 800-meter NCAA Division III outdoor record until Nick Symmonds of Willamette University broke it in spring 2006.

Terrelonge was inducted into the NCAA Division III Hall of Fame in 2005. {Terrelonge Family}

Test your Black History Knowledge

Greetings Parents and Friends,

The technology department is reaching out to conduct its quarterly update. We want to ensure that your technology needs are being met and maintenance is being conducted to ensure the proper care and upkeep of your assigned device. So that virtual learning may be continued without delay.

Below we’ve added some laptop care guidelines that you can continue to follow weekly to ensure your device is disinfected and ready to be returned when your scholar returns to DATE. If you have any questions or concerns you can fill out the Google Form below and someone from the technology department will contact you.

Technology Support

Laptop Care and Safety Information

Cleaning Your Laptop

Follow these general rules when cleaning the outside of your computer and its components:

Shut down your laptop and disconnect the power adapter.
Use a damp, soft, lint-free cloth to clean the computer’s exterior. Avoid getting moisture in any openings. Do not spray liquid directly on the computer.
Don’t use aerosol sprays, solvents, or abrasives.

Cleaning Your laptop Display

To clean your laptop screen, do the following:

Shut down your laptop and disconnect the power adapter.
Dampen a clean, soft, lint-free cloth or paper with water only and wipe the screen. Do not spray liquid directly on the screen.

Carrying Your Laptop

If you carry your laptop in a bag or briefcase, make sure that there are no loose items (such as paper clips or coins) that could accidentally get inside the computer through an opening such as the optical drive slot.

Storing Your Laptop

If you are going to store your laptop for an extended period of time, do one of the following to prevent your laptop battery from becoming completely depleted:

Keep the power adapter connected.
Fully charge your laptop battery before storing the computer.

D. A. T. E. Library Learning Commons

Read Across America Calendar

JLG Book Fair

Suessville

View the Calendar!

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Dekalb Academy of Technology and the Environment · 1492 Kelton Dr · Stone Mountain, GA 30083-1918 · USA