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February 2018

Cynthia Marshall:  1st NBA African American Female CEO

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CYNTHIA-MARSHALL
Cynthia “Cynt” Marshall – Interim CEO Dallas Mavericks

On Monday, February 26, 2018, Cynthia Marshall was announced as the new interim CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. Marshall is 58 years old and recently retired from an executive role as a Chief Diversity Officer with AT & T. She retired after a 36 year career with there. After leaving AT & T, Marshall launched a consulting firm which focused on the areas of leadership, diversity/inclusion, and culture transformation.

She was recruited by Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban following the resignation of the former CEO, Tederma Ussery amid allegations of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct that was released in a recent Sports Illustrated article. Marshall will have the opportunity to drop the “interim” portion of her job title if she chooses. Highly recommended from AT & T leadership, Marshall has some tough work ahead of her. She appears to be up to the challenge!

Sources:

http://theurbannews.com/business/2008/im-every-woman-cynthia-g-marshall-president-att-north-carolina/

http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/22587581/interim-ceo-cynthia-marshall-hopes-make-dallas-mavericks-model-response-misconduct

https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/dallas-mavericks/mavericks/2018/02/26/new-interim-ceo-cynthia-marshall-promises-2019-mavericks-will-standard-diversity-inclusiveness

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Black Mail Black History Quiz

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Comment If you’d like us to send you a copy of the quiz!!

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Darlene Anderson:  1st African American Woman To Become A Professional Roller Derby Skater

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 darlene anderson

 

Darlene Anderson made history in 1958 when she became the first African American female roller derby professional skater.  Anderson was very athletic, playing sports in high school.  Her mother stopped her from playing baseball because she felt the sport was too rough.  Anderson took up roller derby instead.  Her parent’s thought she was taking ice-skating lessons.  She didn’t let them know right away it was roller derby; being fearful that they would make her quit.  Anderson’s parents were raising her to be a “lady” and she knew they would not approve of her competing in a sport like roller derby.

She had no idea that she would compete professionally in the sport.  At that time, roller derby was an extremely popular sport across the U.S.  A time trial held at Olympic Auditorium, gave Anderson her “big break”.  The time trial launched her career as a professional roller derby skater.  Though skeptical at first, Anderson’s parents became her biggest supporters.  She rose to fame quickly, unanimously winning, 1958 “rookie of the year” award at age 19 while skating for the Brooklyn Red Devils.  She also skated professionally for the Hawaii All Stars, San Francisco Bay Bombers, New York Chiefs, Los Angeles Braves, and many other teams.

Anderson felt she was treated well by her teammates and other professionals within the sport.  She would encounter the occasional rowdy fan but feels she was accepted as an equal with other skaters.  After concluding her career, she accomplished another “first”, becoming the first African American woman to be a Pari Mutuels Clerk with the Southern California Racing Association.  Pari Mutuels  is a  form of betting at horse tracks.

Sources:

https://lasentinel.net/darlene-anderson-broke-roller-derby-color-barrier-in-1958.html

http://derbymemoirs.bankedtrack.info/Anderson_Darlene.html

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The National Negro Bowling Association

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TNBA
The National Bowling Association

The National Negro Bowling Association (NNBA) was founded on August 20, 1939 in Detroit, MI.  At that time, the majority of bowling organizations did not allow blacks to become members.  In many cases it was actually written into the constitution of organizations that only whites could be members.  The NNBA held its first tournament in Cleveland, OH in 1939 which featured teams from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin.  There was representation from other states as well.  However, bowlers from Cleveland, Chicago, and Detroit dominated the association until the 1950’s.

 

TNBA 1939
National Negro Bowlers Association – 1939

Continue reading “The National Negro Bowling Association” →

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Wakanda Technology: It’s REAL!

Black History: Special Delivery!!

Jessica O. Matthews is an inventor, venture capitalist, and CEO of Uncharted Power. The company was launched in 2011, as Uncharted Play

The company uses its proprietary “MORE technology” to power kinetic energy solutions for organizations and communities. Uncharted Power is on the cutting edge of kinetic renewable energy solutions.

For those who have seen Black Panther, Matthews is a modern day “Shuri”. Shuri was the younger sister of T’Challa (Black Panther) Matthews holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Nigeria. She recently shared a video on YouTube explaining how the technology used is Tchalla’s and Killmonger’s black panther suit has already been developed and could actually be used today. Check out the video.

Sources:

https://www.u-pwr.co

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Alexander Augusta:  1st Black Surgeon In The U.S. Army

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Alexander Augusta
Alexander Augusta (1825 – 1890)

Alexander Augusta (1825 – 1890) was born in Norfolk Virginia.  He began his medical studies under the supervision of private tutors.  He then applied for admission at the University of Pennsylvania but was denied.  Still, a Professor William Gibson, who was very impressed with Augusta began teaching him privately.  In 1847, Augusta married Native American woman, Mary O. Burgoin.  In 1856 he was admitted to the College Of The University of Toronto. He would eventually receive his Bachelors of Medicine degree from Trinity Medical College.

Augusta went on to establish a thriving private practice in Canada.  He was also hired as the head of Toronto City Hospital.  Just prior to the start of the Civil War,  he returned to the U.S. and enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He was the first of eight black officers to be commissioned during the Civil War and was the first black surgeon in the army.  He was commissioned as a major with the 7th U.S. Colored Troops. At that time, Augusta was the highest ranking black officer.  His high ranking angered some of the white medical personnel who reported to him.  Those individuals wrote President Lincoln and complained.  Lincoln then forced Augusta to take on a leadership role at Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.  Augusta was the first African American to lead Freedman’s Hospital.   Continue reading “Alexander Augusta:  1st Black Surgeon In The U.S. Army” →

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Thomas W. Stewart: African American Inventor

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signal
Station and Street  Indicator

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Thomas W. Stewart (1823 – 1890) was born in Kalamazoo, MI.  He is perhaps, best known for making design improvements to the mop.  In 1893, Stewart invented a new mop that had a clamp and springs which allowed the user to press a lever that would wring out the excess water in the mop.  He also designed the mop head to be detachable, making it easier to clean and replace.

Stewart also received a patent in 1883 for a station and street indicator.  Prior to his invention, there were only street signs that were used to provide warnings at train crossings.  Stewart’s invention worked by activating a lever that was built into the train tracks that indicated a train was coming.

Stewart also invented a metal binding machine in 1893.  The machine also had the capability of oscillating; making the process of bending steel safer and more efficient.

Sources:

https://www.reference.com/art-literature/thomas-w-stewart-s-biography-57b7f90167030510

https://www.thoughtco.com/thomas-stewart-the-mop-4077038

http://blackinventor.com/thomas-stewart/

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Jimmie Lee Jackson:  His Death Inspired The Selma To Montgomery March “Bloody Sunday”

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Jimmie lee jackson
Jimmie Lee Jackson (1938 – 1965)

Jimmie Lee Jackson (1938 – 1965) was born in Marion, Alabama. In February, 1965, Jackson was a 26 year old Vietnam veteran, a father, and the youngest deacon at his church. He worked as a laborer. Jackson was also an active supporter of voting rights. He had been working with other activists to advocate for voting rights in Selma and Marion, Alabama. When Dr. Martin Luther King arrived in Selma in 1965, Jackson had already attempted to register to vote several times. Dr. King decided to bring the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to Selma because he was concerned about the police brutality being experienced by non-violent black activists. He hoped to get the attention of national media outlets to the violence that was occurring. He hoped this attention would put pressure on President Lyndon Johnson to pass voting rights legislation.

Continue reading “Jimmie Lee Jackson:  His Death Inspired The Selma To Montgomery March “Bloody Sunday”” →

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Joseph N. Jackson:  Inventor of A TV Remote Control

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JosephNJackson
Dr. Joseph N. Jackson

Joseph N. Jackson (1929 – ) holds 6 U.S. patents for telecommunications and fertility prediction inventions. Jackson’s first patent was for his contribution to a v-chip device that allowed users to block selected content on cable television. This type of technology is commonly used for parental controls. He also holds patents for TV remote control devices. Jackson was not the first person to invent the remote control.  The first TV remote controls introduced in the U.S. were created by Zenith in 1950.  The remote was called, “Lazy Bones”.  However it was not wireless.  It was attached to the TV by a long cord.  Consumers didn’t like it because it was a frequent trip hazard.   Development of a remote control patent goes back much further than 1950.   The first wireless remote control device, the “Flash-Matic” was developed in 1955 by Zenith engineer, Eugene Polley.  Continue reading “Joseph N. Jackson:  Inventor of A TV Remote Control” →

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