By: Kim Jones

Greetings Sisters and Brothers,

It’s February and in February we celebrate Black History Month. Many of us know about Martin Luther King, Jr., Harriet Tubman, Malcom X, and Madame CJ Walker.

Did you know…

• In 1955, June Bacon-Bercey became the first African-American woman to receive a degree in meteorology. She went on to become America’s first female TV meteorologist and the first African-American woman to be awarded the Meteorological Society Seal of Approval for excellence in television weathercasting.
• It’s OK to learn something new every day. If you didn’t know, you do now. The original model of the Statue of Liberty had an African-American face that was given to us by France to pay homage to the slaves who were brought here by force. The original was refused by America and Europeanized because the people of the United States did not want an African-American face sitting up there on the harbor, so they carved it out in France. They had to go back to the drawing board and remodeled the face after a patron saint of manifest destiny. The statue was made in 1848 and was from the Gold Coast. Not everyone knows this because we weren’t taught this in school. When the French artist created the Statue of Liberty, it was supposed to represent the end of slavery. On the original model, there were chains on the hands and feet. When the statue arrived to America, they removed the chains to erase any reference of slavery.
• Before the names of Julia Childs and Martha Stewart became household icons, there was Lena Richards. She was a culinary trailblazer who broke barriers in a deeply segregated America. Born in Louisiana in the early 20th century, Lena cultivated her passion for cooking in a time where opportunities for black women were scarce. With her talent, determination, and unrelenting drive, she carved out an extraordinary career. In the 1940’s, she made history as the first black woman in America to host her own cooking television show, which inspired countless viewers to embrace the art of creole cooking
• Reuben Burks was the first black secretary treasurer of the IUAW (1998-2002). Burks began working as an assembler at the former Fisher Body Plant Two in Flint, Michigan in 1955 (UAW Local 598). He served his Local membership as a committeeperson and on the Local’s executive board. He was appointed international rep by President Walter Reuther in 1970, and then elected Region 1-C Director in 1989.
• Mamie Johnson was the first woman pitcher in Negro baseball leagues.
• In the 1800’s, one in four cowboys were African-American. We would never have known that from what we learned in school, or by watching movies.
• Daniel Hale Williams was the unsung pioneer of modern medicine. Born in 1856, Williams overcame poverty and racism to become one of the greatest medical pioneers of his time. In an era when opportunities for African-Americans were scarce, Williams broke barriers as a surgeon, educator, and visionary. In 1891, he founded Providence Hospital in Chicago, the first black-owned and interracial hospital in the United States. This groundbreaking institution not only provided crucial care but also trained black doctors and nurses, offering opportunities that were denied elsewhere. Two years later, Williams made history by performing one of the first successful open-heart surgeries. With no modern equipment or tools, he repaired a stab wound to the heart of James Cornish. The patient survived and thrived, cementing Williams’ place as a pioneer in cardiac surgery.
• Mark Dean was a pioneering computer scientist and engineer who played a crucial role in shaping modern computing. Dean’s most notable accomplishment came in 1981 when he co-created the groundbreaking innovation of the IBM personal computer. As a key figure at IBM, he invented the industry standards such as the universal bus, which allows multiple devices like printers, keyboards and external drives to connect to personal computers. This revolutionized their functionality. He was also instrumental in the development of the first color PC monitor and high-performance computer systems. Holding over 20 patents, Dean became the first African-American IBM fellow, the company’s highest technical honor. His groundbreaking contributions not only transformed personal computing but also paved the way for future innovations in technology, inspiring generations of black engineers and scientist.
• Jack L. Cooper broke barriers in the 1920s becoming the fist African-American radio announcer in America. As a veteran stage performer and columnist for the Chicago Defender, Cooper recognized the African-American audience were largely ignored by radio. In 1929, he launched the All-African-American Negro Hour on WSBC Chicago.
• Clarence Sumner Green, Sr. was the first African-American neurosurgeon in the United States. He was board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery in 1953.
• In 1981, Dr. Alexa Canady became the first black woman neurosurgeon in the United States.
• On January 4, 1942, Dr. Matthew Perry opened a school for licensed practical nurses in Fayetteville for African-Americans. It operated at least through the 1950’s and many graduates were hired by the federal hospital at Fort Bragg.

This was just a few did you know….

• Black history is American history. Once you know your history, you can never be fooled.
• Next month is Women’s History Month, more to follow next month.
• Daylight Saving Time begins on March 9, 2025 at 2:00 a.m. Don’t forget to spring forward.
• UAW Local 659 Recreation & Women’s committees present an Easter Party for kids on Sunday, April 6, 2025, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Take a picture with the Easter Bunny, and enjoy a movie, & snacks for the kids. The Easter Egg Hunt will start at 2:00 p.m.

Until next month, be safe and God Bless.