Imagine The USA Without Black People

[dales]

February being Black History Month, I thought the following would be apropos:

As Black History Month comes to an end, we must remind ourselves that February isn't the only month in the year to acknowledge the accomplishments of African-Americans, especially when we use some of the things that were invented by black people every day.

Black people have made some incredible contributions to society, including in the realms of music and culture. There are so many examples that we couldn't fit them all in one post. But we decided to pulled together a short list of some of the things invented by black people that the world simply wouldn't be able to live without -- as a simple reminder that black history really is everyone's history.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/2 ... 77195.html

[liberty]

One example of an exaggeration: Garrett Morgan did not invent the traffic light, he invented an improved version by adding a caution light. There were traffic lights before him. Why this need to exaggerate? Is not an improvement good enough? That is how most inventions came about.

[Joe Guy]

racist!!

[liberty]

racist!!

Yes racist, the truth is racist. If you don’t suck up you’re a racist. The world is racist and there is this “great white racist conspiracy to keep the black man down by denying him his superior black history“.

The truth is the truth and the truth is good enough for me, whatever it is.

[MajGenl.Meade]

One example of an exaggeration: Garrett Morgan did not invent the traffic light, he invented an improved version by adding a caution light. There were traffic lights before him. Why this need to exaggerate? Is not an improvement good enough? That is how most inventions came about.

He was really more famous locally and at the time nationally for devising a breathing device (NOT a gas mask) and rescuing some trapped miners. That's often forgotten these days - perhaps because we don't need such things in our daily lives.

This is his traffic control device - a hand-cranked STOP/GO sign. There's no "Caution" light



One refinement was adding an all-way STOP combination to allow pedestrians to safely cross the street.

Why this need to minimise an achievement? Is not an improvement good enough?

[Crackpot]

Hotly if you feel the need to downplay the achievements of a person based on the group they are associated with

[Joe Guy]

It should also be noted that Mr Morgan's breathing device was a precursor to the gas mask, which eventually became very useful to racist cops when they threw tear gas into crowds of peacefully gathered black demonstrators.

[liberty]

One example of an exaggeration: Garrett Morgan did not invent the traffic light, he invented an improved version by adding a caution light. There were traffic lights before him. Why this need to exaggerate? Is not an improvement good enough? That is how most inventions came about.

He was really more famous locally and at the time nationally for devising a breathing device (NOT a gas mask) and rescuing some trapped miners. That's often forgotten these days - perhaps because we don't need such things in our daily lives.

This is his traffic control device - a hand-cranked STOP/GO sign. There's no "Caution" light



One refinement was adding an all-way STOP combination to allow pedestrians to safely cross the street.

Why this need to minimise an achievement? Is not an improvement good enough?

Thanks for your contribution Neade. So I was wrong, I thought that Morgan had invented the traffic light as we know it today. The device existed before him and improvements were made after his time.

Improvements are good enough for me and I think the man should get credit his achievement.

[Joe Guy]

I'd also like to thank Neade for his contribution...

[MajGenl.Meade]

lib just does that to annoy me. It doesn't

[Joe Guy]

lib just does that to annoy me. It doesn't

I think it does.

It made you miss your period.

[rubato]

Who would I miss the most?


















Irreplaceable, every one.

yrs,
rubato

[Joe Guy]

Ah yes... black people have contributed much to our society...

[MajGenl.Meade]

lib just does that to annoy me. It doesn't

I think it does.

It made you miss your period.

I'm just trying to assimilate

[liberty]

lib just does that to annoy me. It doesn't

I think it does.

It made you miss your period.

I'm just trying to assimilate

If Neade really bothers you I will quit using it. But needy people do not make it to generals. We all, normal people, want to be loved, but some of us won’t sacrifice our principles for acceptance; 2+2=4 and not five.

[MajGenl.Meade]

lib just does that to annoy me. It doesn't

If Neade really bothers you I will quit using it. But needy people do not make it to generals. We all, normal people, want to be loved, but some of us won’t sacrifice our principles for acceptance; 2+2=4 and not five.

I wrote, "lib just does that to annoy me. It doesn't". If that really is beyond your ability to understand, words fail both of us.

As to your second and third sentences, you may be the only person in the world who understands gibberish. I shall await elucidation (but don't bother).

[liberty]

lib just does that to annoy me. It doesn't

If Neade really bothers you I will quit using it. But needy people do not make it to generals. We all, normal people, want to be loved, but some of us won’t sacrifice our principles for acceptance; 2+2=4 and not five.

As to your second and third sentences, you may be the only person in the world who understands gibberish. I shall await elucidation (but don't bother).

Well, Mr. Meade let me try again: Whether I am liked or not I can’t change the fact that 2+2=4 (reference: 1984 ). If someone did not invent something but instead invented an improved version that is the way it and I can’t say otherwise. I am not trying to diminish anyone’s achievement because of race or any other reason. I know that you hate this phrase, but it is true,” what is ,is“. And big brother or his disciples can’t change it. He may kill you or cost you your job, but the truth is what it is.

[rubato]

If Neade really bothers you I will quit using it. But needy people do not make it to generals. We all, normal people, want to be loved, but some of us won’t sacrifice our principles for acceptance; 2+2=4 and not five.

...


Well, Mr. Meade let me try again: Whether I am liked or not I can’t change the fact that 2+2=4 (reference: 1984 ). If someone did not invent something but instead invented an improved version that is the way it and I can’t say otherwise. I am not trying to diminish anyone’s achievement because of race or any other reason. I know that you hate this phrase, but it is true,” what is ,is“. And big brother or his disciples can’t change it. He may kill you or cost you your job, but the truth is what it is.[/quote]


Your entire post wast phrased solely to diminish his accomplishment and pretend that it had been exaggerated for political reasons. You were wrong on every fact and your attempt to diminish him only diminished you and proved your own racism.



yrs,
rubato

[MajGenl.Meade]

Just to be clear, rubato. You intend the above post as an explanation of what lib posted - right?

[liberty]

If Neade really bothers you I will quit using it. But needy people do not make it to generals. We all, normal people, want to be loved, but some of us won’t sacrifice our principles for acceptance; 2+2=4 and not five.

...


Well, Mr. Meade let me try again: Whether I am liked or not I can’t change the fact that 2+2=4 (reference: 1984 ). If someone did not invent something but instead invented an improved version that is the way it and I can’t say otherwise. I am not trying to diminish anyone’s achievement because of race or any other reason. I know that you hate this phrase, but it is true,” what is ,is“. And big brother or his disciples can’t change it. He may kill you or cost you your job, but the truth is what it is.

Your entire post wast phrased solely to diminish his accomplishment and pretend that it had been exaggerated for political reasons. You were wrong on every fact and your attempt to diminish him only diminished you and proved your own racism.



yrs,
rubato[/quote]


liberty wrote:

Here is the statement to which I was responding. Do you see any exaggeration there. What are the chances that we would have no traffic lights if Morgan had not been born?

Imagine what the roads would look like without traffic lights. Well, thanks to Garrett A Morgan, we don't have to. Born to freed slaves, with only 6th grade level of education, Morgan owned a repair shop, clothing business and cosmetic product line. He started The Cleveland Call black newspaper in 1920, and patented the mechanical traffic light in 1923 and sold it to General Electric.