We Honor & Celebrate Black Leaders
Whose Contributions
Improved Our Lives and Changed the World
|
|
|
Shouldn’t everyone be able to sit anywhere they want on a bus? In 1955, Rosa Parks, a Civil Rights Activist, protested an unfair law that stated that African-Americans had to sit in the back of buses instead of sitting anywhere they wanted to like everyone else. Her courage to be an upstander inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott, organized by Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and with the help of 17,000 African American citizens, helped change this unjust rule and inspired the civil rights movement. Thank you Rosa Parks!
|
|
Without traffic lights, how would you know when to safely stop or drive on a road with multiple vehicles? Garrett Morgan, an inventor, repairman, and business owner, invented the three light traffic signal in 1923. He also invented the gas mask that has saved many lives, an improved sewing machine, and hair care products that straighten hair. He also created many organizations and businesses to help the Black community in Cleveland. Thank you Garrett Morgan!
|
|
Ever played with a super soaker water gun? Lonnie G. Johnson, a NASA engineer who worked on space missions to Jupiter and Saturn, invented the Super Soaker in 1982. The super soaker was so successful that he was able to financially fund all of his own research in technology to help the environment and be awarded over 100 patents. Thank you Lonnie G. Johnson!
|
|
Aren’t you glad that we don’t have to iron our clothes on a piece of wood balanced between two chairs? Sarah Boone was an African American dressmaker who was born to enslaved parents that invented the modern-day ironing board. She became one of the first African American women to be awarded a patent in 1892. Thank you Sarah Boone!
|
|
Can you imagine how many lives have been saved by heart operations? On July 9th, 1893, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams successfully performed the first heart operation – before the invention of penicillin, antibiotics, or x-rays. Upset that Black people were not allowed treatment in most hospitals, he opened Provident Hospital in Chicago, accepting all doctors and patients, regardless of race. Thank you Dr. Daniel Hale Williams!
|
|
 |
On August 30, 1983, Dr. Guion “Guy” Bluford becomes the first Black astronaut launched into space aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
|
|
|
|
On September 12, 1992, Mae Jemison becomes the first Black female astronaut in space aboard the space shuttle Endeavour.
|
|
|
|
Black History Celebration Events
Save the Date: Black History Celebration Bedtime Story Night
Wednesday, 2/24 at 6:30PM featuring “Have You Thanked an Inventor Today?”
El Carmelo PTA is delighted to host children’s author Patrice McLaurin for a district-wide virtual author visit on the evening of Wednesday, February 24th. Patrice will read from her wonderful picture book Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? At the end of the presentation there will be a 12-book giveaway, with a signed book going to a student participant from each of the 12 PAUSD elementary schools. This is your Zoom webinar link for the event: https://pausd.zoom.us/j/91455422038
Save the Date: Black History Celebration Family Fun Night, 2/26 at 6:30PM
Join us for a high-energy, district-wide, professionally led celebratory online event where our elementary students will keep the learning and fun going beyond the Black History Celebration Newsletters and Bedtime Story Night with Black History-focused Bingo, Kahoot, Scavenger Hunt, and more with prizes! All PAUSD Elementary School families are welcome. You don’t want to miss this! Zoom details coming soon!
Sign Up for Ruby Bridges Walk 'n' Roll Month
More than 60 years ago, Ruby Bridges' mother courageously supported her six year old daughter in becoming the first Black student to walk to an all-white school. Sign up for Ruby Bridges Walk 'n' Roll Month and learn about how supporting transportation equity can reduce those impacts of traffic congestion, transportation-related injury and chronic disease, air pollution exposure and access to jobs, health care and education that disproportionately affect people in historically under-represented communities.
PAUSD and the City of Palo Alto Launch a 21-Day Equity Challenge
This is a powerful opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives, our community and our student's education. For 21 days during Black History Month, Palo Alto students, parents, staff and the community at large are encouraged to do one action each day beginning on February 1. The #PAEquityChallenge will provide online daily activities (brief readings, videos, etc.) that can be done in 15 minutes or less. Each daily topic will provide an opportunity to deepen our connections and further our understanding of power, privilege, oppression, and equity. Please sign up and encourage others to do so as well! https://tinyurl.com/PAEquityChallenge
Thanks for celebrating Black History with us! More to come next week!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
