Darrenlyn Braddy
Staff Writer/MC301
Carter G. Woodson, African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of Black History Month once said, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”
Many African-American history making moments and people are not discussed and honored. Some of these little known moments and people are discussed below.
Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks died never knowing how significant her existence would be still to this day. Her birth has saved lives across the country.
Lacks is the source of cells that form the HeLa cell line, which has been used extensively in medical research since the 1950s. During radiation treatments for cervical cancer, doctors removed two cervical samples from Lacks without her knowledge at John Hopkins Hospital. She died on Oct. 4, 1951, at the age of 31.
Researcher Dr. George Otto Gey noticed that unlike most cells, which survived only a few days, Lacks’s cells were far more durable. Gey isolated and multiplied a specific cell, creating a cell line. He dubbed the resulting sample HeLa, derived from the name Henrietta Lacks. The HeLa strain was eventually used to develop the polio vaccine, sparking mass interest in the cells. The strand was cloned in 1955. Researchers have used the cells to study disease and to test human sensitivity to new products and substances. Since that time, over ten thousand patents involving HeLa cells have been registered.
Ernie Barnes
African-Americans have influenced the trends of arts and culture drastically. Ernie Barnes was a major influencer in the art world and although many don’t recognize his name, they have more than likely seen his work.
Barnes was born in 1938 and became known as one of the world’s leading African-American painters well known for his unique style of elongation and movement. Barnes’ view of the African-American experience and his vivid imagination is reflected in his artwork. He began painting while playing college football at North Carolina College. He went on to play for five years in the NFL, then decided to retire and paint full-time. His painting called “Sugar Shack” was featured on the classic TV sitcom “Good Times”. A consistent and distinct feature in Barnes’ work is the closed eyes of his subjects. He did this to symbolize how blind he felt people were to other’s humanity. In 2009, Barnes died of complications caused by a rare blood disorder at the age of 70.
The West Computers
The recent release of the hit movie “Hidden Figures” showed that African-American were also instrumental in America’s foray into space. Without the work of women like Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughan, the trip to the moon would not have happened so soon.
The year is 1943. The location is Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Hampton, Va. Here history was made when African-American women began working on calculating data by hand and were known as the West Computers. Their stories is told in the book “Hidden Human Computers: The Black Women of NASA”, a book written by Sue Bradford Edwards and Dr. Duchess Harris (whose own grandmother was one of the “computers. These female computers have contributions ranging from the ever-changing design of a different wartime flying machines, making them faster, safer, more aerodynamic, they also worked to advance supersonic flight, and calculated the trajectories for the Mercury and Apollo missions.
Cathay Williams
While most believe that it was in the mid-2000s before women served in combat roles in the military, Cathay Williams broke that barrier (albeit illegally) in 1886, becoming the only female Buffalo Soldier.
Williams was born in Independence, Mo. in September of 1842. Her mother was a slave and her father was a free man so she was born a slave. On Nov. 15, 1886, Williams became the first African-American female to enlist and serve in the United States Army. Posing as a man under the pseudonym William Cathay, she was assigned to the 38th U.S. Infantry. However, frequent hospitalizations led to the discovery of Williams’ sex by a post surgeon.
She was reported to her post commander and discharged honorably from the military. Nothing is known of Cathay Williams after 1892, although she is believed to have died before 1900.
Bayard Rustin
The fight for civil rights is an integral part of African-American history. Leaders like Bayard Rustin were instrumental participants in these social movements.
Rustin was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where his family was involved in civil rights work. He began fighting for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. After his move to New York City, he continued his activism, best known for his work as adviser to Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1950s and ‘60s. He advised King about Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violent resistance and advised him on the tactics of civil disobedience. He assisted King with the boycott of segregated buses in Montgomery, Ala. in 1956.
Most famously, Rustin was a key figure in the organization of the March on Washington, at which King delivered his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. Many believe he isn’t widely addressed because he was openly gay and was an advocate for the LGBTQ community.
These are just a few of the moments and people who have made an impact on African-American and American history. Stay tuned next week for more.
Sources: greatblackheroes.com, biography.com and erniebarnes.com
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