JayKnight Life: Running, Reviews, Photos

      I love American History... Even the dark embarrassing parts because that's what makes us strong.  I know that February has passed us.. we are now in March... but b lack history month is a time to reflect on those that labored, struggled, and suffered to make this world a better place. It's a time to remember a part of our American history that is often times forgotten. The Civil Rights Act       As in years past... I like to go digging for more information about this time period that includes slavery, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights era.      The library of congress has been a great resource for me. In Connecticut, Yale University's online library was also a great resource for me.       So after my move to North Carolina, I began looking for resources -- here that could help me.     To be fair, I knew nothing about this area when I moved here. I had no prior interests or connections he...

On February 8th, 2014, I awoke with a desire to witness something big happening in Raleigh-- and no it wasn't the Krispy Kreme challenge (in which some 7-thousand runners participated.)      One year ago, I missed what local NAACP leaders call HKonJ (Hundreds of Thousands on Jones Street), but this year I didn't want to miss it. Apparently, I wasn't alone. Tens of thousands of people packed the streets surrounding the Historic Shaw University.  And so we gathered and waited under overcast skies right in front o Estey Hall- where, in 1873, black women occupied the first female dorm on a coed campus in the country. The air was cold but the smiles were warm out in front of the historic   Leonard Medical School  where african American doctors and pharmacist have studied and filed in and out since 1881. At that time it was the only placket where a black man could fulfill his dream and purpose to become a doctor or pharmacist. 

Richard Etheridge, far left, and the Pea Island Life-Saving crew in front of their station, circa 1890. U.S. Coast Guard photo      Every year around black history month we talk about the great "firsts." Those who broke through racial barriers to become the first African-Americans to do something. In every case there was a lot of pain  and heartache leading up to success. In this next story, The "first" accomplishment only scratches the surface of what this man was able to do in his life. Pea Island Station - Library of Congress         Richard Etheridge was the first African American "Keeper" or Commander of a Life Saving station. He was also commander of the first all-black Coast Guard crew.      He was promoted from the lowest to the highest position. His all-white crew quit... so Etheridge recruited an all African American crew from nearby stations.    His stati...

Map of Little Liberia     The "Freeman" homes in Bridgeport are responsible for really getting me started on the road toward digging for more information about Connecticut's history.  It's a little section of Bridgeport that was called "Little Liberia."  It was named after Liberia -- the oldest country in Africa.       The Country was established in 1947, one year before slavery was abolished in Connecticut. The country was established by Americans as a part of the "Colonization Movement." Colonization is what they thought was a humane way to free slaves and end slavery.  Imagine taking someone from the fields of Alabama, Florida, Virginia and just dropping them off in a country that they've never known or seen.  That's an argument for another day-Crazy. 

     After that last post on lynching, I had to go a little lighter before I reach back to the slavery, the slave trade and Africa. Of course, I'll also look at some other things there is plenty to cover. Today,  I want to focus on the positive. Looking at all the great black inventors who created something to fill a void in our every day lives and make life better. They are the great problem solvers of our time. George Washington Carver is really the star of all Black inventors. His name is almost synonymous with peanut. By some accounts you'd think he invented the peanut. He actually discovery more than 300 different uses for peanuts including cooking oil, axle grease and printer ink. He was the first African American student at Iowa State University, and first African American faculty member. He then took a job as director of agriculture at Tuskegee Institute. He came up with a crop rotation method that created a surplus of peanuts, potatoes and pecans...