February is Black History Month

February is Black History Month, a period in which to reflect upon and better educate ourselves about how African Americans, and their rich and vast culture, have contributed to the shaping of modern society...

In 1891 Phillip Downing invented the outdoor mailbox that featured a hinged door that kept the letters secure and kept the snow and rain out.
In 1922, Garrett Morgan invented the three-light traffic system.
In 1887, Alexander Miles invented automatic elevator doors.
In 1889, John Purdy invented the folding chair.
In 1872, Thomas Elkins invented the modern toilet.
In 1919, Alice H. Parker invented the gas-heating furnace.
In 1964, Otis Boykin created the pacemaker.

More recently, the creation of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is credited to Dr. Marian Croak; Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and her team are widely regarded as the scientists that developed the components of the COVID 19 Vaccine marking a turning point in the global pandemic.

Today, there is a consistent effort to eliminate the teaching of African American History from the educational system in the United States. The accomplishments, contributions, and suffering of African Americans are part of the American story and should not be relegated to just a month but should be a required part of our educational curriculum.