Brehs that know more about economics, with immigration currently at a halt and more illegals being sent away, will the conditions of AA's (economically) improve or nah? Seems that logically it should 
Essential The Official African American Thread#2
- Thread starter Rhapscallion Démone
- Start date
I don't know breh, they talking bout going to war with China now. As if we can afford that.Brehs that know more about economics, with immigration currently at a halt and more illegals being sent away, will the conditions of AA's (economically) improve or nah? Seems that logically it should
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
Deeper Than Rap: The Black Influence on All of American Music
JUNE 27, 2011 · 3 COMMENTS
CULTURE · TAGGED: BLUES, CHUCK BERRY, COUNTRY, JESSICA BENNETT, RAP, RAY CHARLES, ROCK N ROLL, SOUL
Considering the past 30 years, it is safe to say that hip-hop has taken over as the dominant musical genre of expressing African-American views. R&B and soul music also carry on the tradition, with a wide range of artists dedicated to keeping the old school feeling of rhythm & blues alive. That being said, it is easy to forget how much African Americans have influenced other genres, such as rock ‘n roll, country and others, since there are so few well known artists of color in those genres today. The Black influence on American music is greatly underappreciated, and for Black Music Month, it should be brought to light just how much African-Americans have contributed.
When we look at and listen to rock stars today, we tend to see slim, white guys with ripped jeans and long hair, wailing barely audible lyrics over a thrashing guitar riff. It may not be everyone’s taste, but it does have its place, and can be a very lively and fun experience. With artists varying from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen, from Nirvana to Marilyn Mansion, we rarely see the link to Black folks within the context of modern rock. But as many know, the so called “King of Rock ‘N Roll” Elvis Presley owes a great deal to the life of several Black artists, namely Chuck Berry, who for many is the real King of Rock. Artists such as Berry, Ike Turner and Little Richard were producing the kind of music Elvis, The Rolling Stones and other rock heavyweights mimicked for years to come. It indeed grew and changed from its original incarnation as it spread throughout the country and around the world, but the southern black roots of rock ‘n roll cannot be denied.
Similarly, today’s country music today is associated with white southerners equipped with a cowboy hat and an acoustic guitar. Yes, there are many folk artists that were indeed white and helped in the development of what country has become, but it should also be made clear that country has strong roots in blues music, especially in the storytelling/lyrical aspect of things. As the legendary Etta James once said, “The blues and country are cousins,” and that is easy to believe when you listen to a masterful artist such as Ray Charles who navigated through several genres seamlessly, and whose music greatly influenced how country grew and developed throughout the years.
African-Americans have left their mark on every form of American music, so why is it so difficult for us to expand beyond hip-hop and R&B in today’s cultural landscape, when we had such a hand in other genres those many years ago? One answer could simply be the expectations and limitations we place on ourselves. At every major awards show focused on African-Americans, is there ever a best country category? Best Rock? Best Electronica? No, there isn’t. Why? It isn’t because there aren’t any Black people who fit the category, it’s because we tend to limit our thinking to what the majority deems successful, instead of acknowledging our full selves as artists. In today’s music industry, there could be a possible shift in this mentality. With the melding of multiple genres, it feels as if all races could get away with doing whatever kind of music they choose. A white, female rapper? Sure. A Black guy from the projects doing house music? Why not? We’ve come too far to limit ourselves, and it’s about time we embrace all of what the arts have to offer, especially when our people worked so hard to build it.
– Jessica Bennett
* * * *
Jessica Bennett is a freelance music journalist who also goes by “Compton” and “Soulfullyreal.” All three of them are Hip Hop Heads with a column entitled “Welcome to Compton”. For daily musings, check her out at @soulfullyreal.
Deeper Than Rap: The Black Influence on All of American Music - Soul Train
One can easily make the case that if you removed the Afram influence, there would be no such thing as what came to be global pop music.
Nothing but facts.
“God created black people and black people created style,”-George C. Wolfe
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
Hoodoo (folk magic)
Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition
Mojo Workin': The Old African American Hoodoo System
Mojo Workin'
If you listen to older Blues, they make many references to Hoodoo
John the Conqueror
Black cat bone
Mojo (African-American culture)
Goofer dust
Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition
Mojo Workin': The Old African American Hoodoo System
Mojo Workin'
If you listen to older Blues, they make many references to Hoodoo
John the Conqueror
Black cat bone
Mojo (African-American culture)
Goofer dust
Last edited:
Meet Rashaun Williams: An Investor Connecting Athletes And Entertainers To Tech
Rosa Otieno
Rashaun Williams is an experienced investor, advisor, and entrepreneur. He’s started a company with hip-hop icon Nas and developed deep ties in the sports and entertainment world.
Rashaun is starting a fund called the MVP All-Star Fund with Manhattan Venture Partners. He envisions a future where athletes and entertainers can provide innovative black businesses with financial support to grow and thrive.
We had the opportunity to speak with Rashaun Williams.
Find out how he is using over fifteen years of experience to give back to his community.
Blavity: What motivates you? How do you measure success?
RW: There are two things. The first focus is investing in some of the fastest growing tech companies in the world and helping those companies grow. My second focus is helping athletes and entertainers in the inner-city get exposure to technology and investing. I’ve been doing that for 15 years.
Blavity: Did you ever think you’d fail?
RW: I started from failure. I grew up on the south side of Chicago. I’m sure you’ve read the news. When I was a child it was worse. I came from an environment where drugs and gangs were in high volume. I was the only one from my neighborhood to graduate from college. I was running away from that so my perspective is different than most. I was motivated to get away - to escape selling drugs and going to prison was a win for me. I never imagined failure because I was born into it. I rose out of that and I haven’t turned around since then.
Blavity: What problems does your business solve?
RW: I recently joined Manhattan Venture Partners (MVP) as a general partner of the MVP All-Star Fund. The problems that they solve are clinical. The goal is to give our community access to the fastest growing unicorns in the world. Prior to the All-Star Fund, there was no place that our athletes and entertainers could go to get a portfolio of unicorns all at once. Another problem the fund solves is diversification. The All-Star Fund helps clients access a diverse portfolio instantly. We also do research on the top unicorns in the world. We have some of the top analysts in the space doing research for our clients. There are not a lot of places you can go to for that.
Blavity: With your career excelling at this rate, how do you balance life with your career with your personal life?
RW: There is really no distinction between my career and my personal life anymore. I worked to blur the lines for over a decade. When I am educating athletes and entertainers about investing in technology and about careers in technology I do it as a person and a friend. Professionally, I do the same thing. I’m helping my investors get an education and have access to the hottest names in Silicon Valley. Those two things are one in the same for me.
Blavity: What's Nas like? Did you fan out when you met him? Are you a fan of his work?
RW: It was amazing. I’ve worked with 20-30 artists that are like Nas. The relationship I had with Nas went a little deeper than some of the other guys because we created a venture capital fund. There are 20-30 other guys I work with and we are just doing deals. For me, it’s great because it’s a part of my overall thesis. I’m trying to bring the leaders in sports and entertainment together and let them get involved in the technology industry. I actively seek out guys who have expressed interest in tech and offer my expertise. I help them become investors, raise capital and fund companies.
Working with Nas was amazing because he is one of the most real MCs of all time. He’s a very smart guy. He’s multi-talented. He’s not just a great artist but he’s conscious, woke, community-oriented, entrepreneurial and genuine. I have this saying, “If I won’t do it for free, I won’t do it for a fee.” I feel like Nas and I share that sentiment.
Blavity: What's the best advice you've ever received?
RW: The first day I arrived at Morehouse I had to memorize a quote by Benjamin E. Mays. I’ve taken this advice with me. “It’s far better to dare for mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, although checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor souls who know neither glory or defeat.” That to me is saying to swing without fear. Strike out. It’s ok to lose. It’s far better to try to accomplish something amazing than to never take that risk at all. For me, I’ve been living my life that way. There’s no one else that does what I do out here. That’s why I can say “here’s the blueprint”. I’m mentoring a dozen young people to come after me and do the same thing.
Blavity: What advice would you give your younger self?
RW: I would have become an investor a lot sooner in my career as opposed to an advisor. The blueprint for me is Robert Smith. He’s the richest black man in America. He worked at Goldman Sachs and then started his own firm. Now he is the richest black man in America. I would have started investing much sooner as opposed to helping other people invest.
Blavity: How do you feel when you're the only black person in the room?
RW: I’ve always been the only black person in the room. I’ve also been the only young person, the only person from the south side of Chicago, and the only person who listened to hip-hop. There were a lot of firsts for me. It was easier for me to handle the stress than other people I’ve met. I was fortunate enough to be educated at Morehouse. Morehouse instilled a real sense of pride in all of their students. I learned about black empowerment and my history. That experience provided me with the inner strength to walk proudly and stand on the shoulders of my ancestors. I was never insecure of who I was. Now I am not the only black person in the room and I am creating opportunities for others.
Photo: Rashaun Williams
Blavity: Outside of venture capital, are there other professional endeavors you'd like to explore?
RW: I have a non-profit called the Kemet Institute where I teach financial literacy and entrepreneurship. I’ve been teaching in inner cities, churches, and schools for over 15 years. I also mentor a group of young investment bankers and technologists. I teach them what I know and help them get their careers to the next level. We meet every month to exchange ideas and build a strong network.
Blavity: Defend or refute: The tech industry values diversity?
RW: The tech industry values innovation and profits. I think individuals value diversity but only a select few. Wall Street and Silicon Valley do not value diversity. The tech industry is focused on efficiency. If a diverse candidate comes and offers innovation or financial returns then great. A diverse candidate will not always be valued, though. The focus should be creating opportunities for diverse candidates to bring innovation and financial return. Diverse candidates need the opportunity to compete with everyone else. They shouldn’t be put in an environment where they cannot drive innovation or returns.
Blavity: What are your biggest obstacles?
RW: I have a big task ahead of me. I am trying to get black tech funded in early stages so our people can compete and have financial returns for investors. Other communities have family and friends they can rely on to raise the money. They can afford to quit their jobs and take risks on their companies. I want to figure out how to source and finance black tech.
Blavity: How can a regular Marcus or Kayla get to your level?
RW: I worked on Wall Street to develop a skill set. I worked in one of the largest firms in the world and learned how to invest. I would tell others to develop their skillset, do their analysis, and understand how things work. Eventually, you can transition over to this career. I would recommend going out and becoming an expert and eventually, people will come to you.
Blavity: Who do you want to make proud?
RW: I work behind the scenes. I never want the attention or focus. I want my investors to have great returns on the companies we invest in together. I also want entrepreneurs to build amazing businesses for the community. I want to make my people and my community proud.
Rashaun helps fund technology that will empower black millennials. He also offers free mentorship and advice to diverse, Silicon Beach-based startups and active investors. Want to learn more about Rashaun Williams? Access his work here.
Remember, sharing is caring.
I am currently a Staff Writer at Blavity. I advocate for diversity and inclusion in tech, educational equity, and prison reform. I enjoy working with people who share my passion for positive impact, social justice, and empowerment of underserved people.
Rosa Otieno
Rashaun Williams is an experienced investor, advisor, and entrepreneur. He’s started a company with hip-hop icon Nas and developed deep ties in the sports and entertainment world.
Rashaun is starting a fund called the MVP All-Star Fund with Manhattan Venture Partners. He envisions a future where athletes and entertainers can provide innovative black businesses with financial support to grow and thrive.
We had the opportunity to speak with Rashaun Williams.
Find out how he is using over fifteen years of experience to give back to his community.
Blavity: What motivates you? How do you measure success?
RW: There are two things. The first focus is investing in some of the fastest growing tech companies in the world and helping those companies grow. My second focus is helping athletes and entertainers in the inner-city get exposure to technology and investing. I’ve been doing that for 15 years.
Blavity: Did you ever think you’d fail?
RW: I started from failure. I grew up on the south side of Chicago. I’m sure you’ve read the news. When I was a child it was worse. I came from an environment where drugs and gangs were in high volume. I was the only one from my neighborhood to graduate from college. I was running away from that so my perspective is different than most. I was motivated to get away - to escape selling drugs and going to prison was a win for me. I never imagined failure because I was born into it. I rose out of that and I haven’t turned around since then.
Blavity: What problems does your business solve?
RW: I recently joined Manhattan Venture Partners (MVP) as a general partner of the MVP All-Star Fund. The problems that they solve are clinical. The goal is to give our community access to the fastest growing unicorns in the world. Prior to the All-Star Fund, there was no place that our athletes and entertainers could go to get a portfolio of unicorns all at once. Another problem the fund solves is diversification. The All-Star Fund helps clients access a diverse portfolio instantly. We also do research on the top unicorns in the world. We have some of the top analysts in the space doing research for our clients. There are not a lot of places you can go to for that.
Blavity: With your career excelling at this rate, how do you balance life with your career with your personal life?
RW: There is really no distinction between my career and my personal life anymore. I worked to blur the lines for over a decade. When I am educating athletes and entertainers about investing in technology and about careers in technology I do it as a person and a friend. Professionally, I do the same thing. I’m helping my investors get an education and have access to the hottest names in Silicon Valley. Those two things are one in the same for me.
Blavity: What's Nas like? Did you fan out when you met him? Are you a fan of his work?
RW: It was amazing. I’ve worked with 20-30 artists that are like Nas. The relationship I had with Nas went a little deeper than some of the other guys because we created a venture capital fund. There are 20-30 other guys I work with and we are just doing deals. For me, it’s great because it’s a part of my overall thesis. I’m trying to bring the leaders in sports and entertainment together and let them get involved in the technology industry. I actively seek out guys who have expressed interest in tech and offer my expertise. I help them become investors, raise capital and fund companies.
Working with Nas was amazing because he is one of the most real MCs of all time. He’s a very smart guy. He’s multi-talented. He’s not just a great artist but he’s conscious, woke, community-oriented, entrepreneurial and genuine. I have this saying, “If I won’t do it for free, I won’t do it for a fee.” I feel like Nas and I share that sentiment.
Blavity: What's the best advice you've ever received?
RW: The first day I arrived at Morehouse I had to memorize a quote by Benjamin E. Mays. I’ve taken this advice with me. “It’s far better to dare for mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, although checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor souls who know neither glory or defeat.” That to me is saying to swing without fear. Strike out. It’s ok to lose. It’s far better to try to accomplish something amazing than to never take that risk at all. For me, I’ve been living my life that way. There’s no one else that does what I do out here. That’s why I can say “here’s the blueprint”. I’m mentoring a dozen young people to come after me and do the same thing.
Blavity: What advice would you give your younger self?
RW: I would have become an investor a lot sooner in my career as opposed to an advisor. The blueprint for me is Robert Smith. He’s the richest black man in America. He worked at Goldman Sachs and then started his own firm. Now he is the richest black man in America. I would have started investing much sooner as opposed to helping other people invest.
Blavity: How do you feel when you're the only black person in the room?
RW: I’ve always been the only black person in the room. I’ve also been the only young person, the only person from the south side of Chicago, and the only person who listened to hip-hop. There were a lot of firsts for me. It was easier for me to handle the stress than other people I’ve met. I was fortunate enough to be educated at Morehouse. Morehouse instilled a real sense of pride in all of their students. I learned about black empowerment and my history. That experience provided me with the inner strength to walk proudly and stand on the shoulders of my ancestors. I was never insecure of who I was. Now I am not the only black person in the room and I am creating opportunities for others.
Blavity: Outside of venture capital, are there other professional endeavors you'd like to explore?
RW: I have a non-profit called the Kemet Institute where I teach financial literacy and entrepreneurship. I’ve been teaching in inner cities, churches, and schools for over 15 years. I also mentor a group of young investment bankers and technologists. I teach them what I know and help them get their careers to the next level. We meet every month to exchange ideas and build a strong network.
Blavity: Defend or refute: The tech industry values diversity?
RW: The tech industry values innovation and profits. I think individuals value diversity but only a select few. Wall Street and Silicon Valley do not value diversity. The tech industry is focused on efficiency. If a diverse candidate comes and offers innovation or financial returns then great. A diverse candidate will not always be valued, though. The focus should be creating opportunities for diverse candidates to bring innovation and financial return. Diverse candidates need the opportunity to compete with everyone else. They shouldn’t be put in an environment where they cannot drive innovation or returns.
Blavity: What are your biggest obstacles?
RW: I have a big task ahead of me. I am trying to get black tech funded in early stages so our people can compete and have financial returns for investors. Other communities have family and friends they can rely on to raise the money. They can afford to quit their jobs and take risks on their companies. I want to figure out how to source and finance black tech.
Blavity: How can a regular Marcus or Kayla get to your level?
RW: I worked on Wall Street to develop a skill set. I worked in one of the largest firms in the world and learned how to invest. I would tell others to develop their skillset, do their analysis, and understand how things work. Eventually, you can transition over to this career. I would recommend going out and becoming an expert and eventually, people will come to you.
Blavity: Who do you want to make proud?
RW: I work behind the scenes. I never want the attention or focus. I want my investors to have great returns on the companies we invest in together. I also want entrepreneurs to build amazing businesses for the community. I want to make my people and my community proud.
Rashaun helps fund technology that will empower black millennials. He also offers free mentorship and advice to diverse, Silicon Beach-based startups and active investors. Want to learn more about Rashaun Williams? Access his work here.
Remember, sharing is caring.
I am currently a Staff Writer at Blavity. I advocate for diversity and inclusion in tech, educational equity, and prison reform. I enjoy working with people who share my passion for positive impact, social justice, and empowerment of underserved people.
Black Lightning
Superstar
African-American explorer Matthew Henson has achieved fame for being part of a team led by Robert Peary that claims they were the first people to reach the Geographic North Pole. Although historians have disputed the claims, Henson and Peary are still regarded as pioneering explorers by all involved. Henson was born on this day in 1866.
Henson was born in the small farming town of Nanjemoy in Southern Maryland to parents Lemuel and Caroline, who were both freeborn sharecroppers. Henson’s mother passed when he was 4, and his father took him to Washington, D.C., for better opportunity. His father died when he was 8, leaving him in the care of relatives.
After running away from home at age 11, the next year Henson became a ship worker and cabin boy. For six years, Henson learned how to read and absorbed navigation skills and other tasks that would eventually help him in his later career. When the ship captain he worked for passed, Henson returned to the nation’s capital and worked as a store clerk.
It was in that store Henson met Peary who hired him as a valet after a recommendation by the store owner.
Henson and Peary headed to Greenland in 1891 for an expedition. Henson adapted quickly to the job, embracing Inuit Eskimo culture and learning their language.
The mission was tough, and Henson was the only member of Peary’s team to remain.
In 1895, the pair led another trip to Greenland, but it was a perilous mission; the team attempted to chart the ice cap in the North but ended up killing and eating their sled dogs to survive due to poor supplies.
After several trips to reach the North Pole, including a voyage supported by President Theodore Roosevelt, who provided them with an ice-cutter ship, Peary and Henson made one final push in 1909 to reach their lofty goal.
Peary fell ill on the last leg of the journey and trusted Henson to lead four Eskimos and 40 dogs (down from an original number of 24 men and 119 sled dogs) to plant the American Flag at the top of the North Pole.
“I was in the lead that had overshot the mark a couple of miles. We went back then and I could see that my footprints were the first at the spot,” said Henson in a newspaper article after the team returned home. As expected, Peary was lauded as a hero while Henson was seen as an afterthought. Peary also faced scrutiny from Congress because of the lack of evidence that the men actually reached the North Pole.
Learn more about Henson and Peary’s travels here:
Black Lightning
Superstar
Black Lightning
Superstar
African-American Astronauts
Selected by NASA in April 1996, Wilson reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, she is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. She was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch to work with Space Station payload displays and procedures. She then served in the Astronaut Office CAPCOM Branch, working in Mission Control as a prime communicator with on-orbit crews. Following her work in Mission Control, Wilson was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Shuttle Operations Branch involving the Space Shuttle Main Engines, External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. Wilson completed her first space flight on STS-121 in 2006 and has logged almost 13-days in space. She is assigned to the STS-120 mission that will deliver the Node 2 connecting module to the International Space Station.
Major Robert Lawrence was the first African-American selected for astronaut training by NASA. He was selected to be an astronaut in a proposed Air Force space program called the Manned Orbiting Laboratory. In 1967, Major Lawrence was tragically killed in a plane crash during a training mission and did not get the opportunity to fly in space.
The first African-American in space was Philadelphia native and United States Air Force Colonel, Guion “Guy” Bluford, Jr. Bluford received his bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1964, a master of science degree with distinction in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1974, and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering with a minor in laser physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1978. Dr. Bluford also earned a master of business administration from the University of Houston, Clear Lake in 1987. As a member of the United States Air Force, Bluford earned his pilot wings in 1966. He became a NASA astronaut in 1979 and completed four space flights (STS-8, STS 61-A, STS-39, and STS-53) as a mission specialist, logging over 688 hours in space according to his NASA biography.
Dr. Ronald McNair, born in Lake City, South Carolina, was the second African-American to orbit the Earth. Dr. McNair earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971 and a Ph.D. in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976. McNair was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. On his first mission he acted as a mission specialist on STS 41-B in 1984. This mission marked the first flight of the Manned Maneuvering Unit and the first use of the Canadian arm, which was operated by McNair, to position EVA crewman around the Challenger payload bay. For his second mission, Dr. McNair was assigned to act as a mission specialist on STS 51-L. Sadly, on January 28, 1986, Dr. McNair was killed along with six other crew members when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch from the Kennedy Space Center. McNair was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Today, the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program assists first-generation college students with financial need or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. According to its website, the program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through research involvement, and the program goal is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.
Fredrick Gregory was the first African-American to pilot and command a Space Shuttle mission. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1964 and a master’s degree in information systems from George Washington University in 1977. Gregory was trained as a pilot in the United States Air Force, logging over 6,976 hours flying in over 50 types of aircraft including 550 combat missions in Vietnam according to his NASA biography. Gregory was selected as an astronaut in 1978, and flew on STS-51-B, STS-33, and STS-44. Gregory later served as Associate Administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (1992-2001), Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight (2001-2002), and NASA Deputy Administrator (2002-2005).
Charles F. Bolden, Jr. earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical science in 1968 from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps according to his NASA biography. He completed flight training in 1970 and became a naval aviator, flying over 100 combat missions between 1972-1973. Bolden was selected as an Astronaut Candidate by NASA in 1980 and flew on four missions (STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, and STS-60). Bolden was nominated as Administrator of NASA by President Barack Obama, and on July 17, 2009 became the twelfth person to hold that position. Bolden is currently serving in that position.
Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman to fly in space. Jemison earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering (and fulfilled the requirements for a B.A. in African and Afro-American Studies) from Stanford University in 1977, and a doctorate degree in medicine from Cornell University in 1981. Dr. Jemison has experience in both engineering and medical research. She completed her internship at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center in 1982 and worked as a General Practitioner with INA/Ross Loos Medical Group in Los Angeles. Dr. Jemison was selected into the astronaut program in 1987 and was the mission specialist on STS-47 where she logged over 190 hours in space.
Bernard A. Harris, Jr. was the first African-American to walk in space. This Temple, Texas, native earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1978 and a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. Dr. Harris completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1985 and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas in 1988. Dr. Harris also earned a master’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1996, according to his NASA biography. Dr. Harris was selected by NASA for the astronaut class of 1990 and flew as a mission specialist on STS-55 and was the Payload Commander on STS-63.
Captain Winston E. Scott received a bachelor of arts degree in music from Florida State University in 1972 and a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1980. Scott entered Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School following his graduation from Florida State in 1972. He accumulated over 5,000 hours of flight time in 20 different military and civilian aircraft. He was selected by NASA in March 1992 and served as a mission specialist on STS-72 and STS-87 where he completed an EVA on each flight. He later retired from NASA to serve as Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida State University. He also wrote a book entitled, “Reflections From Earth Orbit” in 2005.
Captain Robert Curbeam is a veteran of seven spacewalks during his three space shuttle flights. Curbeam is from Baltimore, Maryland, and he earned his bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1984. He went on to earn a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1990 and a degree of aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1991. He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in December 1994 and went on to fly three Space Shuttle missions – STS-85, STS-98, and STS-116 – where he logged over 901 hours in space.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson earned a bachelor of science degree in physics/astronomy from the University of Washington in 1981 and a master of science degree in physics from Creighton University in 1990. He was selected to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB in Oklahoma in 1986 and later served as an aircraft commander and instructor pilot in the 920th Air Refueling Squadron at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan. Anderson was selected by NASA in December 1994 and flew on two missions (STS-89 Endeavour and STS-107 Columbia), logging over 593 hours in space. Tragically, Anderson and the other members of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew perished during re-entry on February 1, 2003. Anderson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
Stephanie Wilson received her bachelor of science degree in engineering science from Harvard University in 1988 and a master of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1992, where her research focused on the control and modeling of large, flexible space structures. She was employed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory before being selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996. Wilson flew on three missions (STS-121, STS-120, and STS-131) and has logged over 42 days in space. During her time in space, Wilson was responsible for operating the robotic arm for vehicle inspection and EVA support and served as flight engineer for STS-120.
Joan Higginbotham received her bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1987, a master of management from Florida Institute of Technology in 1992, and a master of science in space systems from Florida Institute of Technology in 1996. Higginbotham acted as a Payload Electrical Engineer in the Electrical and Telecommunications Systems Division at Kennedy Space Center in 1987. She has flown on one mission (STS-116) on the Space Shuttle Discovery and spent over 12 days in space.
Leland D. Melvin earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of Richmond while playing wide receiver for their NCAA football team. Melvin was drafted into the National Football League by the Detroit Lions in 1986 and spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and the Toronto Argonauts. Following injuries that ended his professional football career, Melvin returned to school and earned his master of science degree in materials science engineering from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. His NASA career began in 1989 as an aerospace research engineer at Langley Research Center. He was selected into the Astronaut Corps by NASA in 1998 and served as a mission specialist on two space shuttle missions to the ISS (STS-122 and STS-129). Melvin is currently the Associate Administrator for Education at NASA and is responsible for the development and implementation of the agency’s education programs.
Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Jr. received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1986, a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from MIT in 1993, and a doctor of medicine degree from Harvard Medical School in 1994. He completed his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco in 2000. Dr. Satcher was selected by NASA to be an Astronaut Candidate in 2004. He flew on the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station (STS-129) and performed two spacewalks for a total EVA time of 12 hours and 19 minutes.
Four other African-Americans were selected by NASA as astronauts that did not have the opportunity to fly in space: Livingston Holder, Michael E. Belt, Yvonne Cagle, and Jeanette J. Epps. Each of these dedicated people believed in the advancement of human knowledge and space exploration, and some made the ultimate sacrifice doing what they felt was worth the risk for this endeavor. This month, and every month of the year, we should recognize and thank these heroes for their passion for exploration of the great beyond.
Selected by NASA in April 1996, Wilson reported to the Johnson Space Center in August 1996. Having completed two years of training and evaluation, she is qualified for flight assignment as a mission specialist. She was initially assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Space Station Operations Branch to work with Space Station payload displays and procedures. She then served in the Astronaut Office CAPCOM Branch, working in Mission Control as a prime communicator with on-orbit crews. Following her work in Mission Control, Wilson was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Shuttle Operations Branch involving the Space Shuttle Main Engines, External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters. Wilson completed her first space flight on STS-121 in 2006 and has logged almost 13-days in space. She is assigned to the STS-120 mission that will deliver the Node 2 connecting module to the International Space Station.
Major Robert Lawrence was the first African-American selected for astronaut training by NASA. He was selected to be an astronaut in a proposed Air Force space program called the Manned Orbiting Laboratory. In 1967, Major Lawrence was tragically killed in a plane crash during a training mission and did not get the opportunity to fly in space.
The first African-American in space was Philadelphia native and United States Air Force Colonel, Guion “Guy” Bluford, Jr. Bluford received his bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1964, a master of science degree with distinction in aerospace engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1974, and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering with a minor in laser physics from the Air Force Institute of Technology in 1978. Dr. Bluford also earned a master of business administration from the University of Houston, Clear Lake in 1987. As a member of the United States Air Force, Bluford earned his pilot wings in 1966. He became a NASA astronaut in 1979 and completed four space flights (STS-8, STS 61-A, STS-39, and STS-53) as a mission specialist, logging over 688 hours in space according to his NASA biography.
Dr. Ronald McNair, born in Lake City, South Carolina, was the second African-American to orbit the Earth. Dr. McNair earned a bachelor of science degree in physics from North Carolina A&T State University in 1971 and a Ph.D. in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1976. McNair was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in January 1978. On his first mission he acted as a mission specialist on STS 41-B in 1984. This mission marked the first flight of the Manned Maneuvering Unit and the first use of the Canadian arm, which was operated by McNair, to position EVA crewman around the Challenger payload bay. For his second mission, Dr. McNair was assigned to act as a mission specialist on STS 51-L. Sadly, on January 28, 1986, Dr. McNair was killed along with six other crew members when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch from the Kennedy Space Center. McNair was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. Today, the Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program assists first-generation college students with financial need or members of a group that is traditionally underrepresented in graduate education and have demonstrated strong academic potential. According to its website, the program is designed to prepare undergraduate students for doctoral studies through research involvement, and the program goal is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society.
Fredrick Gregory was the first African-American to pilot and command a Space Shuttle mission. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1964 and a master’s degree in information systems from George Washington University in 1977. Gregory was trained as a pilot in the United States Air Force, logging over 6,976 hours flying in over 50 types of aircraft including 550 combat missions in Vietnam according to his NASA biography. Gregory was selected as an astronaut in 1978, and flew on STS-51-B, STS-33, and STS-44. Gregory later served as Associate Administrator for the Office of Safety and Mission Assurance (1992-2001), Associate Administrator for the Office of Space Flight (2001-2002), and NASA Deputy Administrator (2002-2005).
Charles F. Bolden, Jr. earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical science in 1968 from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps according to his NASA biography. He completed flight training in 1970 and became a naval aviator, flying over 100 combat missions between 1972-1973. Bolden was selected as an Astronaut Candidate by NASA in 1980 and flew on four missions (STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, and STS-60). Bolden was nominated as Administrator of NASA by President Barack Obama, and on July 17, 2009 became the twelfth person to hold that position. Bolden is currently serving in that position.
Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman to fly in space. Jemison earned a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering (and fulfilled the requirements for a B.A. in African and Afro-American Studies) from Stanford University in 1977, and a doctorate degree in medicine from Cornell University in 1981. Dr. Jemison has experience in both engineering and medical research. She completed her internship at Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center in 1982 and worked as a General Practitioner with INA/Ross Loos Medical Group in Los Angeles. Dr. Jemison was selected into the astronaut program in 1987 and was the mission specialist on STS-47 where she logged over 190 hours in space.
Bernard A. Harris, Jr. was the first African-American to walk in space. This Temple, Texas, native earned a bachelor of science degree in biology from the University of Houston in 1978 and a doctorate in medicine from Texas Tech University School of Medicine in 1982. Dr. Harris completed a residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in 1985 and trained as a flight surgeon at the Aerospace School of Medicine, Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas in 1988. Dr. Harris also earned a master’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1996, according to his NASA biography. Dr. Harris was selected by NASA for the astronaut class of 1990 and flew as a mission specialist on STS-55 and was the Payload Commander on STS-63.
Captain Winston E. Scott received a bachelor of arts degree in music from Florida State University in 1972 and a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in 1980. Scott entered Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School following his graduation from Florida State in 1972. He accumulated over 5,000 hours of flight time in 20 different military and civilian aircraft. He was selected by NASA in March 1992 and served as a mission specialist on STS-72 and STS-87 where he completed an EVA on each flight. He later retired from NASA to serve as Vice President for Student Affairs at Florida State University. He also wrote a book entitled, “Reflections From Earth Orbit” in 2005.
Captain Robert Curbeam is a veteran of seven spacewalks during his three space shuttle flights. Curbeam is from Baltimore, Maryland, and he earned his bachelor of science degree in aerospace engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1984. He went on to earn a master of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1990 and a degree of aeronautical and astronautical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1991. He was selected as an astronaut by NASA in December 1994 and went on to fly three Space Shuttle missions – STS-85, STS-98, and STS-116 – where he logged over 901 hours in space.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson earned a bachelor of science degree in physics/astronomy from the University of Washington in 1981 and a master of science degree in physics from Creighton University in 1990. He was selected to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB in Oklahoma in 1986 and later served as an aircraft commander and instructor pilot in the 920th Air Refueling Squadron at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan. Anderson was selected by NASA in December 1994 and flew on two missions (STS-89 Endeavour and STS-107 Columbia), logging over 593 hours in space. Tragically, Anderson and the other members of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew perished during re-entry on February 1, 2003. Anderson was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Space Flight Medal, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Defense Distinguished Service Medal.
Stephanie Wilson received her bachelor of science degree in engineering science from Harvard University in 1988 and a master of science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas in 1992, where her research focused on the control and modeling of large, flexible space structures. She was employed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory before being selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in April 1996. Wilson flew on three missions (STS-121, STS-120, and STS-131) and has logged over 42 days in space. During her time in space, Wilson was responsible for operating the robotic arm for vehicle inspection and EVA support and served as flight engineer for STS-120.
Joan Higginbotham received her bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1987, a master of management from Florida Institute of Technology in 1992, and a master of science in space systems from Florida Institute of Technology in 1996. Higginbotham acted as a Payload Electrical Engineer in the Electrical and Telecommunications Systems Division at Kennedy Space Center in 1987. She has flown on one mission (STS-116) on the Space Shuttle Discovery and spent over 12 days in space.
Leland D. Melvin earned a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of Richmond while playing wide receiver for their NCAA football team. Melvin was drafted into the National Football League by the Detroit Lions in 1986 and spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and the Toronto Argonauts. Following injuries that ended his professional football career, Melvin returned to school and earned his master of science degree in materials science engineering from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. His NASA career began in 1989 as an aerospace research engineer at Langley Research Center. He was selected into the Astronaut Corps by NASA in 1998 and served as a mission specialist on two space shuttle missions to the ISS (STS-122 and STS-129). Melvin is currently the Associate Administrator for Education at NASA and is responsible for the development and implementation of the agency’s education programs.
Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Jr. received a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1986, a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from MIT in 1993, and a doctor of medicine degree from Harvard Medical School in 1994. He completed his internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco in 2000. Dr. Satcher was selected by NASA to be an Astronaut Candidate in 2004. He flew on the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station (STS-129) and performed two spacewalks for a total EVA time of 12 hours and 19 minutes.
Four other African-Americans were selected by NASA as astronauts that did not have the opportunity to fly in space: Livingston Holder, Michael E. Belt, Yvonne Cagle, and Jeanette J. Epps. Each of these dedicated people believed in the advancement of human knowledge and space exploration, and some made the ultimate sacrifice doing what they felt was worth the risk for this endeavor. This month, and every month of the year, we should recognize and thank these heroes for their passion for exploration of the great beyond.
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Emma J. Atkinson was a Black abolitionist who was one of the mysterious “Big Four,” a group of women at Quinn Chapel who provided aid to runaway slaves.
Atkinson arrived in Chicago around 1847 with her husband, Isaac. When they arrived, there were only around 200 other blacks in the city. By 1850, the African-American population in Chicago only consisted of fewer than 400 residents out of a total population of over 23,000.
The “Big Four” women acted as conductors for the Underground Railroad. They provided shelter, food, and other necessities need to help runaway slaves. Out of the four black women, Atkinson is the only known name. There were no records kept by the “Big Four” abolitionists, and little else is known about their work.
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Hiram Rhoades Revels was the first African American United States Senator, filling the seat left vacant by Jefferson Davis in 1861 when Mississippi seceded from the Union.
Born in the 1820s in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Hiram Revels was the son of free parents of mixed African American and Native American ancestry. Revels moved with his family to Lincolnton, North Carolina in 1842, where he became a barber. Two years later he left the South and enrolled at Beech Grove Seminary, a Quaker institution near Liberty, Indiana. In 1845 he entered Darke County (Ohio) Seminary for Negroes. The same year Revels was ordained a minister in a Baltimore African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. In the early 1850s he married Phoebe A. Bass of Zanesville, Ohio, and together they had six children.
Hiram Revels traveled across Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, Missouri, Maryland, Kentucky and Tennessee, preaching to both free and enslaved African Americans. He moved his ministry to an AME church in St. Louis in 1853, but moved again after only a year, due to a dispute with the local bishop. Revels ultimately left the AME denomination and enrolled at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois for two years (1857-1858). He then returned to Baltimore where he was appointed the first African American pastor of the Madison Street Presbyterian Church, a position he held until 1863. Between 1863 and 1865 Revels served as a chaplain in the Union Army and helped recruit and organize black Union Army work battalions in Maryland and Missouri. He also founded a black high school in St. Louis and several churches.
After the Civil War, he continued traveling, preaching in Leavenworth, Kansas; Louisville, Kentucky; and New Orleans, Louisiana. On June 1868, Revels became the presiding elder at a church in Natchez, Mississippi, and shortly thereafter he was appointed to the city board of aldermen.
As a prominent, highly educated African American, Revels was encouraged by many to seek higher office. He ran for the Adams county seat in the state senate in late 1869 as a Republican and easily won as a result of the large majority of African Americans who had recently gained the right to vote during Reconstruction.
Supported by Mississippi’s black legislators, Revels was elected in January 1870 by the Republican-dominated Mississippi state legislature to fill the unexpired US Senate seat of Jefferson Davis. After acrimonious debate on February 25, 1870, over whether to accept his credentials, the United States Senate voted 48 to 8 to seat Revels. One month later he took his seat among the senators. Although Revels served only until the end of the term on March 3, 1871, he nonetheless became the nation’s first African American senator.
Hiram Revels introduced three bills while serving as senator of Mississippi, one of which passed. The successful bill was a petition for the removal of political and civil disabilities from an ex-Confederate official. As a proponent of amnesty for ex-Confederates, Revels received some criticism from the black community.
After completing his term Revels returned to Mississippi. He was a co-founder of Alcorn University 1872. Revels served as its first president of the University until 1873 when he was appointed Mississippi’s Secretary of State. Revels returned to the Alcorn presidency shortly after, but came into conflict with Republican Governor Adelbert Ames who asked him to resign. Student and faculty supported Revels as president however, and he was reappointed in 1876. Revels resigned again in 1882 as a result of poor health and the institution’s financial troubles. Revels moved to Holly Springs, Mississippi where he continued to teach and minister. He died of a stroke on January 16, 1901 while attending the Upper Mississippi Conference of the A.M.E. Church then meeting in Aberdeen, Mississippi.
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The First African-American Professional Basketball Player Now Has a Shoe
Harry Lew (top left) and players from the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in the New England Professional Basketball League.
Harry Lew made his debut playing basketball for the Pawtucketville Athletic Club on Nov. 2, 1902.
He was the first African-American to play the sport for a professional league — 11 years after the sport was invented.
U.S. Rubber’s “Original Baller” Harry Lew tribute sneakers.
The 18-year-old point guard wore U.S. Rubber-branded sneakers on the court, and the label’s “Original Baller” shoe, released last year, celebrates his honor.
“He’s the unknown Jackie Robinson in basketball; he was beaten by his own players and opposing players,” said Gary Pifer, a sneaker historian and owner of the Colchester and U.S. Rubber brands.
“I wanted it to equal that of the Chuck Taylor that Converse made,” Pifer explained. “I conceived the style ‘Original Baller’ for a shoe that could compete with Nike and Converse for the African-American market.”
U.S. Rubber’s “Original Baller” Harry Lew tribute sneakers.
The sneakers retail for $58 online.
Lew played for the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in the New England Professional Basketball League for three years after joining in 1902, and his sports career lasted for more than 20 years.
Harry Lew, the first African-American basketball player drafted by a professional league, played with the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in the New England Professional Basketball League for three years after joining in 1902.
The NBA was formed in 1949, and the Boston Celtics drafted the league’s first African-American player, Chuck Cooper, one year later.
Lew died in 1963, and his contributions to sports history and racial equality have been largely overlooked, said Pifer, who added that Lew has not been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pifer sees the shoe as an apt tribute.
“In 1964 his daughters tried to get him in, and it fell on deaf ears,” Pifer said. “In the newspaper, they gave him a tiny obit in his hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts, next to juniors sections.”
Pifer acquired the U.S. Rubber and Colchester brands in 2005. The heritage story was revived through reproductions of the first basketball sneaker, of which U.S. Rubber originated under Colchester, he said, adding that the company manufactured sneakers for multiple private labels, including Keds, before shuttering. “They were the Prada of rubber footwear,” he said. “The most expensive and highest prices to customers of the gilded age.”
The replica sneakers incorporate the color and style elements of the first design, which were produced in 1892 — one year after Dr. James Naismith invented basketball.
New features on the canvas fashion sneakers that nod to the original include safety bumps for traction, a toe guard and padding in the inner sole to enhance comfort. They’re available for $70 on Colchesters.com.
“We use modern foxing and a thinner slab,” he added. “They had no EPA rules, and they couldn’t make rubber pure back then.”
Harry Lew (top left) and players from the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in the New England Professional Basketball League.
Harry Lew made his debut playing basketball for the Pawtucketville Athletic Club on Nov. 2, 1902.
He was the first African-American to play the sport for a professional league — 11 years after the sport was invented.
U.S. Rubber’s “Original Baller” Harry Lew tribute sneakers.
The 18-year-old point guard wore U.S. Rubber-branded sneakers on the court, and the label’s “Original Baller” shoe, released last year, celebrates his honor.
“He’s the unknown Jackie Robinson in basketball; he was beaten by his own players and opposing players,” said Gary Pifer, a sneaker historian and owner of the Colchester and U.S. Rubber brands.
“I wanted it to equal that of the Chuck Taylor that Converse made,” Pifer explained. “I conceived the style ‘Original Baller’ for a shoe that could compete with Nike and Converse for the African-American market.”
U.S. Rubber’s “Original Baller” Harry Lew tribute sneakers.
The sneakers retail for $58 online.
Lew played for the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in the New England Professional Basketball League for three years after joining in 1902, and his sports career lasted for more than 20 years.
Harry Lew, the first African-American basketball player drafted by a professional league, played with the Pawtucketville Athletic Club in the New England Professional Basketball League for three years after joining in 1902.
The NBA was formed in 1949, and the Boston Celtics drafted the league’s first African-American player, Chuck Cooper, one year later.
Lew died in 1963, and his contributions to sports history and racial equality have been largely overlooked, said Pifer, who added that Lew has not been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Pifer sees the shoe as an apt tribute.
“In 1964 his daughters tried to get him in, and it fell on deaf ears,” Pifer said. “In the newspaper, they gave him a tiny obit in his hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts, next to juniors sections.”
Pifer acquired the U.S. Rubber and Colchester brands in 2005. The heritage story was revived through reproductions of the first basketball sneaker, of which U.S. Rubber originated under Colchester, he said, adding that the company manufactured sneakers for multiple private labels, including Keds, before shuttering. “They were the Prada of rubber footwear,” he said. “The most expensive and highest prices to customers of the gilded age.”
The replica sneakers incorporate the color and style elements of the first design, which were produced in 1892 — one year after Dr. James Naismith invented basketball.
New features on the canvas fashion sneakers that nod to the original include safety bumps for traction, a toe guard and padding in the inner sole to enhance comfort. They’re available for $70 on Colchesters.com.
“We use modern foxing and a thinner slab,” he added. “They had no EPA rules, and they couldn’t make rubber pure back then.”
LIttle Known Black History Fact: The Fultz Quadruplets
Little Known Black History Fact: The Fultz Quadruplets
The Fultz Quadruplets were the first identical Black quad babies born in the United States. The Fultz girls became baby celebrities, while Fred Klenner, the white doctor who delivered them into the world, exploited them for fame and money.
The Fultz Quads – Mary Louise, Mary Ann, Mary Alice, and Mary Catherine – were born on May 3, 1946 at Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, N.C. The Quads’ parents, sharecropper Pete and deaf-mute mother Annie Mae, lived on a farm with their six other children but were too poor to care for the babies. Multiple births were rare at the time and the equipment to care for underweight babies wasn’t as prevalent as it is in modern times.
The girls were delivered in what was known as “the Basement,” according to a 2002 report by journalist and educator Lorraine Ahearn. This “basement” was the Blacks-only wing of Annie Penn, and Klenner and Black nurse Margaret Ware helped Annie Mae give birth. Since the Fultz family couldn’t read or write, Dr. Klenner named the girls after his own family members.
When news of the quads began to spread nationwide, curious onlookers and media began sniffing around for photo opportunities. At the time, baby formula companies such as Gerber and PET wanted to use the quads as a means to start an ad campaign to sell their wares in the Black community. Black families didn’t buy formula during the late ’40’s, as many mothers opted to breast feed because of the high cost of baby formula.
Klenner struck a deal with PET for an undisclosed amount and the Fultz Quads were well on their way to becoming stars. The quads’ starred in ads in Ebony Magazine, and they even made the cover of the publication. But all of this notoriety came with a price as Klenner used the girls for his “Vitamin C therapy” that he claimed made the girls healthy along with the PET evaporated milk formula.
While Klenner reaped the financial benefits, PET Milk company gave the Fultz quads a farm, a nurse, food, and medical care. Even more shocking, when Klenner returned the girls home, he displayed them in a glass-enclosed nursery. In a follow up story reported by Ebony, the then 22-year-old sisters were ultimately adopted by the nurse PET assigned to them and her husband. They struggled with adulthood. The farm they were given was on difficult land, and Pet paid the quads just $350 a month, leaving them virtually broke.
The girls became the third set of quadruplets in America to survive until adulthood. But according to Ahearn’s story, three of the sisters died of breast cancer before age 55, with Catherine Fultz Griffin believed to be the last surviving Fultz quadruplet.
(Photo: JFK Library, Public Domain)
Little Known Black History Fact: The Fultz Quadruplets
The Fultz Quadruplets were the first identical Black quad babies born in the United States. The Fultz girls became baby celebrities, while Fred Klenner, the white doctor who delivered them into the world, exploited them for fame and money.
The Fultz Quads – Mary Louise, Mary Ann, Mary Alice, and Mary Catherine – were born on May 3, 1946 at Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, N.C. The Quads’ parents, sharecropper Pete and deaf-mute mother Annie Mae, lived on a farm with their six other children but were too poor to care for the babies. Multiple births were rare at the time and the equipment to care for underweight babies wasn’t as prevalent as it is in modern times.
The girls were delivered in what was known as “the Basement,” according to a 2002 report by journalist and educator Lorraine Ahearn. This “basement” was the Blacks-only wing of Annie Penn, and Klenner and Black nurse Margaret Ware helped Annie Mae give birth. Since the Fultz family couldn’t read or write, Dr. Klenner named the girls after his own family members.
When news of the quads began to spread nationwide, curious onlookers and media began sniffing around for photo opportunities. At the time, baby formula companies such as Gerber and PET wanted to use the quads as a means to start an ad campaign to sell their wares in the Black community. Black families didn’t buy formula during the late ’40’s, as many mothers opted to breast feed because of the high cost of baby formula.
Klenner struck a deal with PET for an undisclosed amount and the Fultz Quads were well on their way to becoming stars. The quads’ starred in ads in Ebony Magazine, and they even made the cover of the publication. But all of this notoriety came with a price as Klenner used the girls for his “Vitamin C therapy” that he claimed made the girls healthy along with the PET evaporated milk formula.
While Klenner reaped the financial benefits, PET Milk company gave the Fultz quads a farm, a nurse, food, and medical care. Even more shocking, when Klenner returned the girls home, he displayed them in a glass-enclosed nursery. In a follow up story reported by Ebony, the then 22-year-old sisters were ultimately adopted by the nurse PET assigned to them and her husband. They struggled with adulthood. The farm they were given was on difficult land, and Pet paid the quads just $350 a month, leaving them virtually broke.
The girls became the third set of quadruplets in America to survive until adulthood. But according to Ahearn’s story, three of the sisters died of breast cancer before age 55, with Catherine Fultz Griffin believed to be the last surviving Fultz quadruplet.
(Photo: JFK Library, Public Domain)
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LIttle Known Black History Fact: The Fultz Quadruplets
Little Known Black History Fact: The Fultz Quadruplets
The Fultz Quadruplets were the first identical Black quad babies born in the United States. The Fultz girls became baby celebrities, while Fred Klenner, the white doctor who delivered them into the world, exploited them for fame and money.
The Fultz Quads – Mary Louise, Mary Ann, Mary Alice, and Mary Catherine – were born on May 3, 1946 at Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville, N.C. The Quads’ parents, sharecropper Pete and deaf-mute mother Annie Mae, lived on a farm with their six other children but were too poor to care for the babies. Multiple births were rare at the time and the equipment to care for underweight babies wasn’t as prevalent as it is in modern times.
The girls were delivered in what was known as “the Basement,” according to a 2002 report by journalist and educator Lorraine Ahearn. This “basement” was the Blacks-only wing of Annie Penn, and Klenner and Black nurse Margaret Ware helped Annie Mae give birth. Since the Fultz family couldn’t read or write, Dr. Klenner named the girls after his own family members.
When news of the quads began to spread nationwide, curious onlookers and media began sniffing around for photo opportunities. At the time, baby formula companies such as Gerber and PET wanted to use the quads as a means to start an ad campaign to sell their wares in the Black community. Black families didn’t buy formula during the late ’40’s, as many mothers opted to breast feed because of the high cost of baby formula.
Klenner struck a deal with PET for an undisclosed amount and the Fultz Quads were well on their way to becoming stars. The quads’ starred in ads in Ebony Magazine, and they even made the cover of the publication. But all of this notoriety came with a price as Klenner used the girls for his “Vitamin C therapy” that he claimed made the girls healthy along with the PET evaporated milk formula.
While Klenner reaped the financial benefits, PET Milk company gave the Fultz quads a farm, a nurse, food, and medical care. Even more shocking, when Klenner returned the girls home, he displayed them in a glass-enclosed nursery. In a follow up story reported by Ebony, the then 22-year-old sisters were ultimately adopted by the nurse PET assigned to them and her husband. They struggled with adulthood. The farm they were given was on difficult land, and Pet paid the quads just $350 a month, leaving them virtually broke.
The girls became the third set of quadruplets in America to survive until adulthood. But according to Ahearn’s story, three of the sisters died of breast cancer before age 55, with Catherine Fultz Griffin believed to be the last surviving Fultz quadruplet.
(Photo: JFK Library, Public Domain)
I'm from Reidsville and I never knew about this.