BOOKS & STUFF

All that new snow has been rough on everyone, but it has hit wildlife especially hard. Although our some of our feeders are hard to get to now, we do our best to keep them and our suet bags filled. That takes care of the birds, but it breaks my heart to see the deer coming up onto our south deck to lick up the spilled seeds under our hanging feeders. Just hoping we have an early and gentle spring.

I’m well into a rather long novel, so I don’t have a book to write about this week. But since February is Black History Month, I thought I’d take note of some of the people of color who had an impact on this great country. We are familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey and the Obamas, but many lesser-known individuals have been important to us in their own way.

I have selected the names at random; they are not in order of importance or history. I hope you will want to learn more about them.

Sarah Breedlove, also known as Madame CJ Parker, is one of my favorites. She was born in Louisiana in 1867. After a scalp condition caused most of her hair to fall out, Sarah began experimenting with over-the-counter and home remedies until she found a combination that worked. After working for another woman, Sarah and her husband created their own company, with her taking the title Madame CJ Parker. Her sharp business sense in creating and marketing cosmetics specifically for dark-skinned women made her the first black female millionaire in America.

Back in the 1800s, abolitionists were active, so you would recognize many of their names. But I’d like to point out a couple of scientists who did great work when black men were not taken seriously. Norbert Rilleaux invented the “multiple effect evaporator.” This was a much better way of removing water from products such as sugar cane. His work made a big impact on food preservation.

Elijah McCoy created an automated system for lubricating the engines, wheels and axles of locomotives. This prevented wear and allowed trains to travel much farther without stops for oiling. At the end of his life, McCoy held 57 patents for his inventions.

Harriet Wilson’s life was one of abject poverty and hope. She is the author of the controversial novel “Our Nig – Sketches for the Life of a Free Black.” The unflinching account of her life brought her little money or recognition, but it sparked debate and is still discussed today.

Frances Harper fared better. She was well-educated spent much of her time speaking out against the unjust way people of color were treated. She became a poet, short story writer and novelist with dozens of titles published at a time when women of color couldn’t get published.

It’s easy to list the names of people who have influenced music in America and beyond, but you might overlook William Christopher Handy. Handy grew up in Tennessee with very little in the way of formal education, but he had a special way with the trumpet. Before long he began “retooling” old ragtime tunes into what we now know as the blues. W.C. Handy is considered to be “The Father of the Blues,” thus opening up a whole new genre of music for future generations to enjoy.

I’ve only shared a few names here, but I do hope you will take the time to learn about all the various races, faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds who worked to form the world we live in today. If we forget the people and events that built this nation, we do a great disservice all who sacrificed to make us great. Stop by your public library soon and discover our shared past. You’ll be glad you took time to check it out.