DAY 17: THE INVENTIVE MIND

There are many everyday objects we take for granted. Keys. Scissors. Carburetors (whatever those are). Each of these things exists because members of the scientific and engineering community entertained bold ideas and then improved upon prior milestones. Today we honor three scientists from the Black community who truly embodied the words of Dr. Mae Jemison that we shared on Day 14: “Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations.”

Photo of Alexander Miles

Photo of Garrett Morgan

Photo of a statue of George Washington Carver in Missouri

We begin with one everyday object that many of us don't spend much time thinking about: the elevator. Up until the 1880s, elevators were operated manually. This meant people had to consciously open and close the doors of both the elevator and the shaft every time it arrived at the intended floor. Alexander Miles improved on the design by including a flexible belt attached to the elevator cage, which allowed the doors to function automatically. In 1887 he obtained the patent for this lifesaving invention, which is now a standard feature on nearly all elevators.

Next, we call your attention to Garrett Morgan. Garrett 's inventions continue to keep us safe every day. For example, he obtained a patent in 1912 for his “breathing device,” which was one of the earliest versions of a gas mask. In fact, it was notably used in a 1916 tunnel construction disaster rescue. He also dabbled in the science of cosmetology—most of us know Madam C.J. Walker as the Black community’s original queen of hair care, but it is less commonly known that Garrett Morgan discovered and developed a chemical hair-processing and straightening solution. He created a successful company based on his hair product inventions along with a complete line of hair care products. But perhaps you might not chemically straighten your hair or use gas masks in your day-to-day life... This next invention of Garrett’s is likely something you encounter almost on a daily basis: the traffic signal. His take on the traffic signal was the first one to offer a third “caution” signal, which is now commonly referred to as the yellow light.

Last, today we highlight George Washington Carver. George was one of the greatest scientific minds in this country 's history, even more so because of the social and systemic obstacles he had to overcome to be as great as he was. While he is most widely known as an agricultural chemist, he was responsible for developing 300 new products made from peanuts, including milk, flour, ink, soap, medicinal oils, and cosmetics. He also created 118 products from sweet potatoes, including flour, vinegar, ink, and postage stamp glue. Speaking of sweet potatoes, have you tried yesterday’s recipe for sweet potato pie? We shared it in George’s honor. He was born into slavery in Missouri. It is not known exactly when, but he is believed to have been born in 1861. He would eventually become the first Black American in the U.S. to receive a Bachelor of Science degree. His innovations in crop rotation had a huge impact on farmers all over the country, which carries long-term benefits for agriculture-heavy states like Vermont. In fact, his influence was so broad that he convinced Congress to impose a tariff on foreign peanuts. He was also an early promoter of sustainability. For all of his accomplishments, he would become the first Black American man to have a National Park named after him, and the George Washington Carver National Monument in Missouri was the first National Monument ever to be dedicated to a non-president.

Black Scientists Around the World

Have you heard of the recent discovery of another plant in Australia? Tanisha Williams is a botanist, plant ecologist, and co-founder of #BlackBotanistsWeek. She recently led a team that discovered the Garrarnawun Bush Tomato (Solanum scalarium)—a previously undocumented plant in the Australian Outback that was growing in plain sight. Check out this 10-minute audio segment where Tanisha is interviewed about the discovery: Short Wave with Tanisha Williams

Pop Quiz!

A one-question trivia check to make sure you’re on your Black History A-game. How many will you get correct throughout the month? Click the button that reads “Today’s pop quiz” to see today’s question.

In honor of today’s three featured inventors, today’s pop quiz question tests your knowledge of their achievements.

TODAY’S POP QUIZ

Coming up

Check out some of the events happening throughout Black History Month 2023.

TONIGHT 2/17 – Black Artist Showcase

What: A space to share poetry and build community, featuring Black creatives.

Logistics: This event is being held on Friday Feb 17th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kru Coffee, located at 2 Church Street in Burlington.

TOMORROW 2/18 – Black History Month event at Rabble Rouser

What: A celebration of local Black performers and artists during an all-day function. The event will include a photo-story project titled ‘I Am Vermont Too;” performances from artists including Khalilah Rose, Freedom Seeds, and Rajnii Eddins; a jewelry showcase by SoulSimone; Colombian food; and live music.

Logistics: This event is being held on Saturday Feb 18th from 2:00-10:00 p.m. at Rabble Rouser, located at 64 Main St. in Montpelier. Free to people of color; everyone else is encouraged to donate.

2/19 – “Sunbeam & the Pullman Porters” Virtual Tour of Restored Railcar

What: A virtual event featuring a tour of a restored 1903 Pullman railcar and a discussion on the role of Black Porters in the Pullman Company, the rise of America’s Black middle class, the formation of the Black labor movement, and the momentum for the Civil Rights Movement.

Logistics: This event is being held online on Sunday Feb 19th from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Admission is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. To register, e-mail stephanie@hildene.org or call 802-367-7960.

2/22 – Farmers’ Night: Alexander Twilight

What: At this event, “Middlebury Historian Bill Hart and others pay tribute to Rep. Alexander Twilight of Brownington, elected in 1836 as the nation’s first legislator of African descent.”

Logistics: This free event is being held on Wednesday Feb 22nd at the Vermont State House, located on State St. in Montpelier. Learn more here: Farmers’ Night

2/23 – The Rebel Women of Mathematics

What: A deep dive into the worlds of 30+ women who broke barriers and made their mark in STEM fields — from rocket science to computer programming. Hosted by professor, speaker, and PBS host Talithia Williams.

Logistics: This free event is being held online on Thursday Feb 23rd from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Register here: Registration for Rebel Women of Mathematics

2/25 – Black Children’s Books

What: A virtual event to “discover the latest books centering Black children's stories and celebrate the impact of real representation at this opening of a virtual ‘museum’ devoted to Black literature.”

Logistics: This event is being held online on Saturday Feb 25th from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Register here: Visit the Black Children’s Book Museum

2/25 – The Black Experience

What: This free event will feature discussions and panels with local artists and speakers, and a keynote presentation by iconic activist and scholar Dr. Angela Davis. There will also be a performance by the Philadanco dance company.

Logistics: This free event is being held on Saturday Feb 25th at 5:00 p.m. at The Flynn, located at 153 Main Street in Burlington. Learn more here: The Black Experience 2023

2/26 – “BIPOC Soul Food Sunday” in the NEK

What: An affinity space open only to people of color to experience entertainment from Toussaint St. Negritude and a photo booth by I Am Vermont Too. Attendees are encouraged to bring any kind of dish to share.

Logistics: This event is being held on Sunday Feb 26th from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at The Whirligig Brewing, located at 397 Railroad St. in St. Johnsbury.

This Week’s Raffle

Each week, we will draw 5 names from the list of those who signed up for this e-mail series. We hope you win (yes, you!). The drawings are random; we use the True Random Number Service, which will pick 5 numbers each week from the sign-up list. You don’t need to do anything from here—we’ll e-mail you if you’re a lucky winner.

This is an installment in the State of Vermont’s 28-day Black History Month e-mail series, offered by the Vermont Human Rights Commission and the Vermont Office of Racial Equity. The Human Rights Commission protects people from unlawful discrimination in housing, state government employment, and public accommodations. Learn more about the HRC here. The Office of Racial Equity provides guidance and oversight to identify and mitigate systemic racism in state government. Learn more about the ORE here. Did you receive this e-mail from a friend? Want to sign yourself up for the remainder of the month? Subscribe to this list here.

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