Remembrance months: Part I

MOON VALLEY MAGIC BY DEBBIE ERBSTOESSER

My favorite units to teach are Black History in February and Women’s History in March. I love seeing how on task my students are to learn about people who aren’t in our history books. They get a bit indignant at the injustices done, and it makes for rich conversations and contemplating on how we can move forward in more positive ways, doing better because we know better. . . a quote from Maya Angelou.

Former students (during our four years in Philadelphia, PA) always post on social media about men and women, mostly black, who we haven’t heard about and what extraordinary things they’ve done. I gather up that info and add it to the info I already have. My favs are:

Lewis Latimer invented the filament in the lightbulb. Though Thomas Edison got all the credit for the lightbulb, Lewis Latimer made it possible with the filament.

Thomas Martin invented the sprinkler system in ceilings that are in all public buildings.

Jerry Lawson created the first home gaming console with video cartridges. This became the foundation for Atari, Nintendo and Saga.

Dr. Joseph Jackson invented the tv remote control.

Garrett Morgan invented the first gas mask and traffic signal.

Granville Woods invented the telephone transmitter, railway and subway system, roller coaster and many more. He successfully sued Thomas Edison for stealing his patents.

The fact that a black man could win a case in court against Edison back then was quite remarkable, but the newest info to my unit is The Real Top Gun Mavericks. The first Top Gun competition was in 1949. The white pilots competed with the latest state of art aircraft, while the Black pilots had to compete with older planes. After three days the Tuskegee Airmen (Capt. Temple, 1st Lieutenants Stewart, Harvey and Alexander) were the winners and no one cheered.

During Literacy Night at school, my students educate everyone who takes the time to listen with a Wax Museum that is a huge hit. One of the boys is Jackie Robinson, wearing an old Dodgers shirt from our Shaw Butte Little League days. So glad I kept some of my boys old T shirt/ jerseys to make quilts.

The magic is not in the hoarding, but in the using for education.