diversity works black history month 2007
TRANSCRIPT
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8/14/2019 Diversity Works Black History Month 2007
1/40An official publication of the
Winter Edition 2007
DiversityWorks!M a g a z i n e
Urban League
=Vo l u m e 2 I s s u e 1
Did You Hear What I Think I Said:
The Impact of Nonverbal Communication onCorporate Diversity
Building a Solid Family FoundationandSuccessful Business
Remembering Our Legends
African American Quilting: Legacy
=Urban LeagueSan Diego County
Empowering Communities.
Changing Lives.An Affiliate of the National Urban League
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contents16. African American History -- Black Inventors
Colors of Inovation - Thomas L. Jennings,born in 1791, is believed to have been...
20. History of the African American Quilt - The history of the quilt as it pertains to ...
28. Building A Solid Family Foundation andSuccessful Business - As a husband, father and
business owner...
29. Freeing Our Families From GenerationalPoverty - If your childhood was anything likemine, you grew up...
32. Black Families: A Need to Look at Our Past,Present and Future - While traveling throughEurope, Africa and ...
35. Black Business Association of San Diego Makesits Professional Debut - The Urban League ofSan Diego County welcomes the newly...
36. Strategies For Cross-Generational RelationshipBuilding - Here we highlight what we thinkare the best ways to push past generational...
38. Diversity Works! Employer Partners - As one oover 57000 employers in the region...
4. Message from the Publisher4. Message from the President/CEO
6. Editor-in-Chief -- Speak Your Legacy
8. Remembering Our Legends - The final months of2006, called on Americans to take...
10. NUL -- History of the National Urban League - TheNational Urban League, which has played so...
12. Black Inventions and Inventors - Biscuit Cutter, A.P.Ashbourne; Super Soaker, Lonnie Johnson...
13. FYI -- how much do you know about yourhistory - How much do you know about your BlackHistory?...
14. Book Review - Los Angeles, CA) - Africans andAfrican Americans have been overlooked...
15. Black History Facts - How much do you knowabout African-Americans past and present?...
CREDITSPublisher - Maurice D. WilsonEditor-in-Chief - Pamela S. PerkinsManaging Editor - Sheri L. WilliamsAssistant Editor - Paulette Bartley-RoysterResearch & Development Manager - NJ MitchellGraphic Designer - Graphics by DesignPhotographer - Larry MorganCover Design - Graphics by Design
Cover Design Concept- NJ MitchellContributing Writers - P.S. Perkins, NJ Mitchell, Wil Cason
Walter Davis, S. L. Woods
Nonverbal Communicationwithin the corporate culture isoften overlooked and/or under-valued in its impact upon thehealth of the organization.
Communication Practitionersoften cite that NonverbalCommunication accounts for asmuch as 93 percent of an indi-vidual's believability.
DiversityWorks
Cover Story
22. The Impact of Nonverbal Communication
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Editor-in-Chief
Welcome to the winter edition of Diversity Works!Magazine. It is an exciting time to witness the vastcontributions of African Americans and other EthnicAmericans to the economic, political, religious andsocial affairs of U.S. American history. In this issue wecelebrate the contributions of Blacks to technology,innovation and invention. We celebrate a legacy ofresilience. There is a lot to be grateful for as well as mat-ters to be concerned about. Not since Post-Reconstruction have African Americans been able tomake the type of socio-political and economic gains ofthe past three decades. With the recent win ofDemocrats to the House and the Senate, we now sit in
some of the most important seats of decision-making inthe history of Black political achievement. We are expe-riencing unprecedented contributions to the fields ofBiotechnology, Neuroscience, Aeronautics, Medicine,Sports, City Planning, Waste Management,Entertainment, Education and the list continues.
I encourage Black families to sit down with their chil-dren and surf the net for the astounding contributionswe are making in every arena of American life; if we donot, our children will continue to be fed what appears to
be an inexhaustible supply of negative images andstereotypes of Black culture. I am purposefully notincluding a list of our heroes and sheroes, because our
"people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"! Do yourhomework and find out why we are the most resilientpeople on the planet. If you do not know who you areor whose you are, there are thousands of people linedup to tell you who you are not! Which brings me to themain point of my letter today
Who are you? Who or what are you named after?Does your name have a meaning? Are you aware that itis a tradition of many Jewish families to name theirchild after the 8th day of their lives so that they mayknow the spirit of the child before they name them andthus mark them for life with a word that will followthem forever? Naming and Identity are incredibly com-
plex issues for people of African descent here in theAmericas due to the scourge of slavery and its identitydestroying legacy. How many young fathers and mothers
brand their children with exotic, ethnic sounding names
not possessing a clue as to what that name means IF ithas a meaning. What about nicknames like Killer orMonster? Where are the names of our AfricanAncestors or the African American forefathers and fore-mothers? How are we keeping their legacies alive?What about personal identity and the urban identifica-tion with pimps, thugs, ho's and "bit@#*#? Have we soquickly forgotten the very recent fallout of the "N" word
blast across the airwaves of media around the GLOBEby a citizen of our own country - the one we built brick by brick? But of course, he used the same word or aderivative of the same word invoked by some Blackfolks in every corner of the nation. What's the problem?
The problem is the POWER of naming and identifica-tion. What you name, you claim! We hear this preachedfrom many a pulpit on any given day of the week, butwe pour forth into the streets spewing toxic garbagefrom our mouths continuing the defeatist legacy thatmany of our children are adopting. "He who owns thewords, owns everything!" Do you own any words?What words do you use to define yourself and thosewithin your community? Could there be a connection
between our naming and the destructive conditions thatexist within our communities? Until we recognize ourGod-given source of power- the WORD - and its impacton our community health, we will continue to bury a
legacy of hope, endurance, brilliance, sacrifice, love andcourage under a pile of self-hate so high we could notdig out of it if we wanted to. Do youwant to claim your rightful her-itage? Do you want our communi-ty to be "transformed by renewingits mind"? Celebrate BlackHistory Month by reclaimingyour incredible legacy! Speakthe word of healing today andclaim it for yourself and yourpeople. Otherwise, there'salways the "N" word -
NOBODY, NOTHING,NADA!
Speak YourWW
Pamela S. Perkins
Legacy!
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I'm Black and I'm ProudSay It Loud.
The final months of 2006, called on Americans to take a moment and reflect on the legacy of two great public figures. As I ponder the legacy they leave behind, I remember their immortal words that have left an indelible mark on my psyche. 38th President Gerald Ford callefor "A Time of Healing" during the Watergate scandal, a time when the nation felt deeply shocked and betrayed. The other soul th
danced into our lives sliding across our hearts was the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. I will never ever forget, his call to "Say it Loud; I'mBlack and I'm Proud!" It changed my world. As I began to think about their legacy and recall the numbers that have transitioned over the patwo years within the African American community, during this celebration of Black History Month I thought it time to remember and pay homage to a legacy that speaks volumes about a people of faith, resilience and PRIDE! The origins of Black History Month can be traced to 192when Harvard-educated Black historian Carter G. Woodson founded Negro History Week to celebrate the history, contributions and culturof African-Americans. Woodson chose the second week in February for the new festival to link the celebrations to the birth dates of Blacactivist Frederick Douglass (February 7, 1817) and President Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809). Fifty years later, as part of the American b
centennial celebrations in 1976, the week was expanded to become National Black History month. Happy Black History Month!
Remembering Our Legends
James Brown (1933-2006), TheGodfather of Soul, before his transitioncelebrated 50 years in Showbiz. SAY ITLOUD, I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!
Coretta Scott King (1927-2005), the wifeof Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. FirstLady of the Civil Rights Movement
Richard Pryor (1940-2005), King of
Comedy/Actor Legend. In the 70's hewrote comedy for Mel Brooks and LilyTomlin. His 1982 album "Live on theSunset Strip" is considered by many to
be his masterpiece. In 1988 he was thefirst recipient of the Mark Twain MarkHumor Award
Rosa Parks (1913-2005), Mother of theCivil Right Movement, she was 42 yearsyoung on December 1, 1955. She wasnot any more tired that day than anyother day, but in her own words "theonly tired I was, was tired of giving in",
on that day, she refused to give up herseat to a white man
John H. Johnson (1918-2005), Founder& Chairman of Johnson PublishingCompany, Inc, "Failure is a word that Idon't accept", read his best selling auto-
biography Succeeding Against the Odds
Luther Vandross (1951-2005) Lutha,R&B Superstar, many famous songsincluding: "Here and Now"
Johnnie L.Cochran Jr.(1937-2005),Famed Attorney and Law Legend, wasone of the most sought after lawyers inthe United States
Wilson Pickett (1941-2006) R&B/Rock& Roll and Soul Singer. Inducted intothe Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991
Octavia Butler (1947-2006), ScienceFiction Writer. She won both the Hugoand Nebula Awards
Gordon Parks (1912-2006), FamousAfrican American Photographer of the20th Century
Ed Bradley (1941-2006), Journalist CBSNews and 60 Minutes
Ruth Brown (1928-2006), R&B Singer,brought a popular music style to rhythmand blues. She also won a Tony Awardfor her Broadway performance in themusical Black and Blue. The originalsoundtrack won a Grammy Award
George Stevens (1932-2006), San DiegoCity Councilman, Deputy Mayor andBaptist Preacher. Fourth DistrictCouncilman from 1991-2002. CivilRights activist
Gerald Levert , (1966 - 2006) AmericanR&B Singer and son of Eddie Levert Srof the Ojays Gerald blessed us withmany songs including his duet with hisfather that scored as another number
one single "Baby Hold on to Me" Lou Rawls (1933-2006), Singer, Act
and Voice-Overs He was blessed withfour-octave vocal range. The incredibLou Rawls, 60-plus albums, thrGrammy wins, 13 Grammy nomintions, one platinum album, five goalbums and a gold single and a Star othe Hollywood Hall of Fame
Remembering history is ours to do somthing with, to use as we make choices
design our lives and move forward. Let uremember! As we celebrate the legacy Black History Month we are reminded thit is not just a celebration of a history
Black peple, bthe histry America
Remembering Our LegendsNJ Mitchell, Research & Development Manager, Diversity Works! MagazineTT
NJ Mitchell,Research &
DevelopmentManager,
DW! Magazine
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=T
he National Urban League, which
has played so pivotal a role in the
20th-Century Freedom Movement,
grew out of that spontaneous grassroots
movement for freedom and opportunity
that came to be called the BlackMigrations. When the U.S. Supreme Court
declared its approval of segregation in the
1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision, the bru-
tal system of economic, social and political
oppression the White South quickly adopt-
ed rapidly transformed what had been a
trickle of African Americans northward
into a flood.
Those newcomers to the North soon dis-
covered they had not escaped racial dis-
crimination. Excluded from all but menial
jobs in the larger society, victimized by
poor housing and education, and inexperi-enced in the ways of urban living, many
lived in terrible social and economic con-
ditions.
Still, in the degree of difference between
South and North lay opportunity, and that
African Americans clearly understood.
But to capitalize on that opportunity, to
successfully adapt to urban life and to
reduce the pervasive discrimination they
faced, they would need help. That was the
reason the Committee on Urban
Conditions Among Negroes was estab-
lished on September 29, 1910 in New YorkCity. Central to the organization's founding
were two remarkable people: Mrs. Ruth
Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund
Haynes, who would become the
Committee's first executive secretary.
Mrs. Baldwin, the widow of a railroad
magnate and a member of one of America's
oldest families, had a remarkable social
conscience and was a stalwart champion of
the poor and disadvantaged. Dr. Haynes, a
graduate of Fisk University, Yale
University, and Columbia University (he
was the first African American to receive a
doctorate from that institution), felt a com-
pelling need to use his training as a social
worker to serve his people.
A year later, the Committee mergedwith the Committee for the Improvement
of Industrial Conditions Among Negroes
in New York (founded in New York in
1906), and the National League for the
Protection of Colored Women (founded in
1905) to form the National League on
Urban Conditions Among Negroes. In
1920, the name was later shortened to the
National Urban League.
The interracial character of the League's
board was set from its first days. Professor
Edwin R. A. Seligman of Columbia
University, one of the leaders in progres-sive social service activities in New York
City, served as chairman from 1911 to
1913. Mrs. Baldwin took the post until
1915.
The fledgling organization counseled
black migrants from the South, helped
train black social workers, and worked in
various other ways to bring educational
and employment opportunities to blacks.
Its research into the problems blacks faced
in employment opportunities, recreation,
housing, health and sanitation, and educa-
tion spurred the League's quick growth. Bythe end of World War I the organization
had 81 staff members working in 30 cities.
In 1918, Dr. Haynes was succeeded by
Eugene Kinckle Jones who would direct
the agency until his retirement in 1941.
Under his direction, the League signifi-
cantly expanded its multifaceted campaign
to crack the barriers to black employment,
spurred first by the boom years of the
1920s, and then, by the desperate years of
the Great Depression. Efforts at reasoned
persuasion were buttressed by boycotts
against firms that refused to employ
blacks, pressures on schools to expand
vocational opportunities for young people
constant prodding of Washington officials
to include blacks in New Deal recoveryprograms and a drive to get blacks into
previously segregated labor unions.
As World War II loomed, Lester
Granger, a seasoned League veteran and
crusading newspaper columnist, was
appointed Granger's successor.
Outspoken in his commitment to
advancing opportunity for African
Americans, Granger pushed tirelessly to
integrate the racist trade unions, and led
the League's effort to support A. Philip
Randolph's March on Washington
Movement to fight discrimination indefense work and in the armed services.
Under Granger, the League, through its
own Industrial Relations Laboratory, had
notable success in cracking the color bar in
numerous defense plants. The nation's
demand for civilian labor during the war
also helped the organization press ahead
with greater urgency its programs to train
black youths for meaningful blue-collar
employment. After the war those efforts
expanded to persuading Fortune 500 com-
panies to hold career conferences on the
campuses of Negro Colleges and placeblacks in upper-echelon jobs.
Of equal importance to the League's
own future sources of support, Granger
avidly supported the organization of its
volunteer auxiliary, the National Urban
League Guild, which, under the leadership
of Mollie Moon, became an important
national force in its own right.
The explosion of the civil rights move-
ment provoked a change for the League,
one personified by its new leader, Whitney
History of the National Urban League
=Urban LeagueSan Diego County
Empowering Communities.
Changing Lives.
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M. Young, Jr., who became executive
director in 1961. A social worker like his
predecessors, he substantially expanded
the League's fund-raising ability-and, most
critically, made the League a full partner in
the civil rights movement. Indeed,
although the League's tax-exempt status
barred it from protest activities, it hosted at
its New York headquarters the planning
meetings of A. Philip Randolph, Martin
Luther King, Jr., and other civil rights lead-
ers for the 1963 March on Washington.
Young was also a forceful advocate for
greater government and private-sector
efforts to eradicate poverty. His call for a
domestic Marshall Plan, a ten-point pro-
gram designed to close the gap between
the huge social and economic gap betweenblack and white Americans, significantly
influenced the discussion of the Johnson
Administration's War on Poverty legisla-
tion.
Young's tragic death in 1971 in a drown-
ing incident off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria
brought another change in leadership.
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., formerly Executive
Director of the United Negro College
Fund, took over as the League's fifth
Executive Director in 1972 (the title of the
office was changed to President in 1977).
For the next decade, until his resigna-tion in December 1981, Jordan skillfully
guided the League to new heights of
achievement. He oversaw a major expan-
sion of its social-service efforts, as the
League became a significant conduit for
the federal government to establish pro-
grams and deliver services to aid urban
communities, and brokered fresh initia-
tives in such League programs as housing,
health, education and minority business
development. Jordan also instituted a citi-
zenship education program that helped
increase the black vote and brought newprograms to such areas as energy, the envi-
ronment, and non-traditional jobs for
women of color-and he developed The
State of Black America report.
In 1982, John E. Jacob, a former chief
executive officer of the Washington, D.C.
and San Diego affiliates who had served as
Executive Vice President, took the reins of
leadership, solidifying the League's inter-
nal structure and expanding its outreach
even further.
Jacob established the Permanent
Development Fund in order to increase the
organization's financial stamina. In honor
of Whitney Young, he established several
programs to aid the development of those
who work for and with the League: The
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Training Center, to
provide training and leadership develop-
ment opportunities for both staff and vol-
unteers; the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Race
Relations Program, which recognizes affil-
iates doing exemplary work in race rela-
tions; and the Whitney M. Young, Jr.
Commemoration Ceremony, which honors
and pays tribute to long term staff and vol-
unteers who have made extraordinary con-
tributions to the Urban League Movement.
Jacob established the League'sNULITES youth-development program
and spurred the League to put new empha-
sis on programs to reduce teenage preg-
nancy, help single female heads of house-
holds, combat crime in black communities,
and increase voter registration.
Hugh B. Price, appointed to the
League's top office in July 1994, took over
the reins at a critical moment for the
League, for Black America, and for the
nation as a whole. In the early 90's, the
fierce market-driven dynamic of "global-
ization," was sweeping the world, funda-mentally altering the economic relations
among and within countries and reshaping
the link between the nation's citizenry and
its economy, fostering enormous uncer-
tainty among individuals and tensions
among ethnic and cultural groups.
This economic change and the efforts of
some to rollback the gains African
Americans fashioned since the 1960s,
made the League's efforts all the more nec-
essary. Price, a lawyer with extensive
experience in community development and
public policy issues, intensified the organi-zation's work in three broad areas: in edu-
cation and youth development, individual
and community-wide economic empower-
ment, affirmative action and the promotion
of inclusion as a critical foundation for
securing America's future as a multi-ethnic
democracy.
Among Prices most notable achieve-
ments was establishing the League's
Institute of Opportunity and Equality in
Washington, DC, which conducted a
research and public policy analysis of
urban issues and the Campaign for African
American Achievement, a community
mobilization and advocacy initiative creat-
ed to raise awareness and promote the
importance of achievement through
through the formation of the National
Achievers Society, Doing the Right Thing
recognition in local communities and the
Nation Urban League's Scholarship
Program.
On May 15th, 2003 the board of
Trustees of the National Urban League
Voted overwhelmingly to appoint former
New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial as the
league's eighth President and Chief
Executive Officer. As New Orleans Chief
Executive, he was one of the most popularand effective Mayors in the city's history
leaving office with 70 percent approval
rating. After being elected as one of the
youngest Mayors in the city's history,
crime plummeted by 60 percent a corrupt
Police Department was reformed, new pro-
grams for youth were started, and stagnant
economy was reignited.
Since his appointment to the National
Urban League, Morial has worked to reen-
ergize the movement's diverse constituen-
cies by building on the strengths of the
NUL's 95 year old legacy and increasingthe organization's profile both locally and
nationally.
In his first year, Morial worked to
streamline the organizations' headquarters
secured over $10 million dollars in new
funding to support affiliate programs, cre-
ated the first Legislative Policy
Conference "NUL on the Hill', revamped
the State of Black America report, created
profitability for the annual conference, and
secured a $127.5 million equity fund for
the minority businesses through the new
markets tax credit program. He introducedand developed a stronger strategic direc-
tion of the organization with a "five point
empowerment agenda' that focuses on
closing the equality gaps which exist for
African Americans and other emerging
ethnic communities in education, econom-
ic empowerment, health and quality of life
civic engagement, and civil rights and
racial justice.
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Biscuit CutterA.P. Ashbourne
Super SoakerLonnie Johnson
Folding BedL.C. Bailey
Bicycle FrameIssac R. Johnson
Coin ChangerJames A. Bauer
Space Shuttle RetrievalArmWm. Harwell
Rotary EngineAndrew J. Beard
Printing Press
W.A. Lavallette Car Couple
Andrew J. Beard
Envelope SealF.W. Leslie
Letter BoxG.E. Becket
Laser FuelsLester Lee
Stainless Steel PadsAlfred Benjamin
Pressure CookerMaurice W. Lee
Torpedo DischargerH. Bradberry
Window CleanerA.L. Lewis
Disposable SyringePhil Brooks
Pencil SharpenerJohn L. Love
Home Security SystemMarie Brown
Fire ExtinguisherTom J. Marshal
Corn PlanterHenry Blair
LockW.A. Martin
Cotton PlanterHenry Blair
Shoe Lasting MachineJan Matzeliger
Ironing BoardSarah Boone
LubricatorsElijah McCoy
Horse Bridle BitL.F.Brown
Rocket CatapultHugh MacDonald
Horse shoeOscar E. Brown
ElevatorAlexander Miles
PacemakerOtis Boykin
Gas MaskGarrett Morgan
Guide MissileOtis Boykin
Traffic SignalGarrett Morgan
Lawn MowerJohn A. Burr
Hair BrushLyda Newman
TypewriterBurridge & Marshman
Heating FurnaceAlice H. Paker
Train AlarmR.A. Butler
AirshipJ.F.Pickering
Radiation DetectorGeo. Carruthers
Folding ChairPurdgy/Sadgwar
Peanut ButterGeorge W. Carver
Hand StampW.B. Purvis
Paints & SatinsGeorge W. Carver
Fountain PenW.B. Purvis
Lotion & SoapsGeorge W. Carver
Dust PanL.P.Ray
Automatic Fishing ReelGeorge Cook
Insect Destroyer GunA.C. Richardson
Ice cream MoldA.L. Cralle
Baby BuggyW.H. Richardson
Blood PlasmaDr. Charles Drew
Sugar RefinementN. Rillieux
Horse Riding SaddleWm. D. Davis
Clothes DryerG.T. Sampson
ShoeW.A. Detiz
Celluar PhoneHenry Sampson
Player PianoJosephDickinson
Pressing CombWalter Sammons
Arm for RecordingPlayer
Joseph Dickinson
Curtain RodS.R. Scottron
DoorstopO. Dorsey
Lawn SprinklerJ.W. Smith
DoorknobO. Dorsey
Automatic GearshiftR.B. Spikes
Photo Print WashClatonia J. Dorticus
Urinalysis MachineDewey Sanderson
Photo EmbossingMachineClatonia J. Dorticus
Hydraulic Shock
AbsorberRalph Sanderson
Postal Letter BoxP.B. Dowing
RefrigeratorJ. Standard
ToiletT. Elkins
MopT.W. Stewart
Furniture CasterDavid A. Fisher
StairclimbingWheelchair
Rufus J. Weaver Guitar
Robert Flemming ,Jr
HelicopterPaul E. Williams
Golf TeeGeorge F. Grant
Fire Escape Ladder J.B. Winters
Motor J. Gregory
Telephone Transmitter
Granville T. Woods Lantern
Micheal Harney
Electric Cutoff SwitchGranville T. Woods
Thermo Hair CurlersSoloman Harper
Relay InstrumentGranville T. Woods
Gas BurnerB.F. Jackson
Telephone SystemGranville T. Woods
Kitchen TableH.A. Jackson
Galvanic BatteryGranville T. Woods
Video CommanderJoseph N. Jackson
Electric Raillway SystemGranville T. Woods
Remote ControllersJoseph N. Jackson
Roller CoasterGranville T. Woods
Sani-PhoneJerry Johnson
Auto Air BrakeGranville T. Woods
Resource: Little Africa.comhttp://www.littleafrica.com/resources/inventors.htm
Black Inventions &
Inventors
Submitted by Walter Davis
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FYI
1. Which African American inventor pub-
lished a Farmers' Almanac?
A. Otis Boykin
B. Madame Walker
C. Benjamin Banneker
D. George Washington Carver
2. Who was the first African American
woman to receive a patent?
A. Bessie BlountB. Madame Walker
C. Sarah Goode
D. Marjorie Stewart Joyner
3. Who was the first African American
heavyweight champion as well as an
inventor?
A. Jack Johnson
B. Lewis Howard Latimer
C. Lonnie Johnson
D. George Grant
4. Which inventor's last name became the
real _____?
A. John Lee Love
B. John Standard
C. John Christian
D. Elijah McCoy
5. What was Black History Month origi-
nally called?
A. The African American Festival
B. Black History Celebration
C. Black History Day
D. Negro History Week
6. Which millionaire black entrepreneur andinventor started out by washing laundry?
A. Madame C. J. Walker
B. Granville T. Woods
C. Sarah Boone
D. Rufus Stokes
7. Which one of the following black inventors
did not invent something related to food?
A. Bessie Blount
B. Lewis Howard Latimer
C. George Washington Carver
D. Lloyd Augustus Hall
8. Which inventor invented a railroad car
coupler nicknamed the jenny coupler?
A. George Grant
B. Frederick Jones
C. Andrew Jackson Beard
D. Ernest Everett Just
9. Which of the following black inventors
is alive today?
A. Philip Emeagwali
B. Otis Boykin
C. Henry Blair
D. Emmett W. Chappelle
10. Which of the following black inventorsdeveloped the blood bank?
A. Mark Dean
B. David Crosthwait
C. John Lee Love
D. Charles Richard Drew
For Your Information
Join Our Membership Campaign!Yes, I want to join and support the Urban League. My Annual Pledge Contribution is checked below.
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How much do you know about your Black History?
1.C2.C3.A4.D5.D
6.A7.B8.C9.A10.D
Black HistoryQuiz
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BBOOOOKK RREEVVIIEEWW
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RECOGNITION DENIEDPAYS TRIBUTE TO BLACK
CONTRIBUTIONS IN AMERICAS CIVILWAR AND BEYOND
(LosAngeles, CA) - Africans and African Americans have been overlooked for theircontributions to mankind in most arenas. From developing the original writ-ing form to the science of trigonometry that was credited to Pythagoras the Greek, theachievements of Blacks have been virtually ignored throughout history. Seeking to set therecord straight in at least one arena, author and artist, Kenneth E. Brown recently pro-duced his latest book, Recognition Denied: A History of the Black Soldier in America's Civil War.
Thoroughly researching and supporting his contention that without the use ofBlack soldiers in the war, the Union would not have won, Brown documents the impor-tant roles Blacks played in not only the American Civil War, but in the history of theworld as well. Brown supports his research with detailed summaries of battles, photo-graphs, battle schematics, graphs, and geographic maps, accompanied by a CD with allof the books contents, audio narration, hyper links to major Black Civil War websites anda genealogical link to 200,000 Black soldiers who served in the Civil War.
Not only has Western history significantly minimized Black achievements, some impor-tant Black achievements have been completely ignored as to their Black origins, and someothers have been credited to other races, Brown explained. I am of the opinion that ifBlacks, as well as all people, knew the positive history of the Black race, a number of Blackchildren would take more pride in their heritage and therefore would have more options
that could affect their lives in a positive way. This could even result in fewer Black young-sters in prison.
Author of an historical novel,A View With Rage: Love and War in the Black South, 1850-1900, Brown also created The Black Heritage Collection, a series of miniature sculp-tures consisting of great Blacks up and through the American Civil War including HarrietTubman, Sojourner Truth, Phyllis Wheatley and Frederick Douglass, along with a CivilWar soldier, cavalryman and a gun tower commemorating Africans during the MiddlePassage. The collection is comprised of individual sculptures, business card holders anda chess set.
Also co-creator of the limited edition, "African Legacy" chess set - named so becausechess was created in Africa - Brown modeled its pieces after the most famous WestAfrican masks, which he cast in sterling silver, bronze and pewter.
A Braddock, PA native, Brown graduated with honors from California State Universityat Los Angeles. A computer technician and graphics specialist by profession, Brown isowner of Alphacad Design Solution.A labor of love, Recognition Denied pays tribute to all of the brave Black soldiers who con-tributed to winning America's Civil War. Recognition Denied is available in Los Angelesat Eso Won Bookstore, 4331 Degnan Blvd. and at Amazon.com for African AmericanHistory Month. For additional information contact Brown at (310) 418-7599 or visit thewebsite at blackheritagesculptures.com.
Article by, Rae Jones, RAEDIANT Communications
(323) 294-5280 or [email protected].
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How much do you know
about African-Americans
past and present?
February 1 -
Today in 1926, what is now known as
Black History Month was first celebrated
on this date as Negro History Week. It
became a month-long celebration in 1976.
February 2 -
Today in 1914, artist William Ellisworth is
born in Washington, North Carolina.
Educated at Syracuse University, he was a
student of Florida artist Augusta Savage.
His works were exhibited at Atlanta
University, the Whitney Museum, the Two
Centuries of Black American Art exhibit,
Fisk University, Hampton University, the
North Carolina Museum of Art and privatecollectors.
February 3 -
Today in 1956, Autherine J. Lucy becomes
the first black student to attend the
University of Alabama. She was expelled
three days later for her own safety in
response to threats from a mob. In 1992
Autherine Lucy Foster graduated from the
University with a master's degree in educa-
tion. The same day, her daughter, Grazia
Foster, graduated with a bachelor's degree
in corporate finance.
February 4 -Today in 1986, a stamp of Sojourner Truth
is issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
February 5 -
Today in 1990, Columbia University gradu-
ate and Harvard University law student
Barack Obabma became the first African
American named president of the Harvard
Law Review.
February 6 -
Today in 1898, Melvin B. Tolson, author,
educator, poet, was born. Today in 1961,
Jail-in movement started in Rock Hill, S.C.,
when students refused to pay fines and
requested jail sentences. Students
Nonviolent Coordinating Committee urged
south-wide Jail, No Bail campaign.
February 7 -
Today in 1872, Alcorn A&M College
opened.
February 8 -
Today in 1968, Thirty South Carolina State
students were shot, and three were killed by
police, in what was called the Orangeburg
Massacre. Students were protesting segre-
gation at an Orangeburg bowling alley.
Today in 1925, students staged strike at
Fisk University to protest policies of white
administration.
February 9 -
Today in 1960, 100 Johnson C. Smith
University students staged sit-ins at down-
town Charlotte lunch counters.
February 10 -
Today in 1854, founder and first president
of Livingstone College, Joseph Charles
Price was born
February 11 -
Today in 1996, Penn's Baccalaureate Speaker
was the Right Reverend Barbara Clementine
Harris, a Philadelphian who was the first
woman ever to become a bishop in the
Anglican Communion.
February 12 -
Today in 1900, for a Lincoln birthday cele-bration, James Weldon Johnson writes the
lyrics for Lift Every Voice and Sing. With
music by his brother, J. Rosamond, the
song is first sung by 500 children in
Jacksonville, Fla. It will become known as
the Negro National Anthem.
February 13 -
Today in 1635, America's first public
school, the Boston Latin School, opened in
Boston. Black students were excluded from
attending.
February 14 -
Today in 1867, Morehouse College organ-ized in Augusta, Georgia. The institution
was later moved to Atlanta.
February 15 -
Today in 1848, Sarah Roberts barred from
white school in Boston. Her father,
Benjamin Roberts, filed the first school inte-
gration suit on her behalf.
February 16 -
Today in 1857, Frederick Douglass elected
President of Freedman Bank and Trust.
February 17 -
Today in 1870, Congress passed resolution
readmitting Mississippi on condition that itwould never change its constitution to dis-
enfranchise Blacks.
February 18
Today in 1913, the Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority was incorporated at Howard
University.
February 19
Today in 1942, the Army Air Corps' all
African American 100th Pursuit Squadron,
later designated a fighter squadron, was
activated at Tuskegee Institute. The
squadron served honorably in England an
in other regions of the European continen
during World War II.
February 20
Today in 1927, Sidney Poitier was born i
Miami, Florida.
Today in 1968, state troopers used tear ga
to stop demonstrations at Alcorn A&M
College.
February 21
Today in 1987, African Americans i
Tampa, Florida rebelled after an Africa
American man was killed by a white polic
officer while in custody.
February 22
Today in 1911, activist and social reforme
Francis Ellen Watkins Harper died. Harpe
founded the National Convention o
Colored Women in 1864 and was involve
in other projects for women's rights.
February 23
Today in 1868, Dr. William Edwar
Burghardt DuBois, educator and civil right
advocate, was born.
February 24
Today in 1864, Rebecca Lee Crumple
becomes the first black woman to receiv
an M.D. degree. She graduated from th
New England Female Medical College.
February 25
Today in 1978, Pensacola native Danie
Chappie James, first African America
four-star general, dies in Colorado SpringsColorado.
February 26
Today in 1920, Dr. Carter G. Woodso
founded Associated Publishers.
February 27
Today in 1872, Charlotte Ray graduates from
Howard Law School. She is the first Africa
American lawyer in the U.S.
February 28
Today in 1704, Elias Neau, a Frenchman
opened school for Blacks in New York City
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patent solicitor where he began the study of
drafting. His talent for drafting and his cre-
ative genius led him to invent a method of
making carbon filaments for the Maxim elec-
tric incandescent lamp. In 1881, he supervised
installation of electric light in New York,
Philadelphia, Montreal, and London. Latimer
was the original draftsman for Thomas Edison
and as such was the star witness in Edison's
infringement suits. Latimer had many inter-
ests. He was a draftsman, engineer, author,poet, musician, and, at the same time, a devot-
ed family man and philanthropist.
Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1856,
Granville T. Woods dedicated his life to
developing a variety of inventions relating to
the railroad industry. To some he was known
as the "Black Edison". Woods invented more
than a dozen devices to improve electric rail-
way cars and many more for controlling the
flow of electricity. His most noted invention
was a system for letting the engineer of a
train know how close his train was to others.
This device helped cut down accidents and
collisions between trains.
Alexander Graham Bell's company pur-
chased the rights to Woods' "telegraphony,"
enabling him to become a full-time inventor.
Among his other top inventions were a steam
boiler furnace and an automatic air brake
used to slow or stop trains. Wood's electric
car was powered by overhead wires. It was
the third rail system to keep cars running on
the right track.
Success led to law suits filed by Thomas
Edison. Woods eventually won, but Edison
didn't give up easily when he wanted some-
thing. Trying to win Woods over, and his
inventions, Edison offered Woods a promi-
nent position in the engineering department
of Edison Electric Light Company in NewYork. Woods, preferring his independence,
declined.
Dr. Meridith Groudine was born in New
Jersey in 1929 and grew up in the streets of
Harlem and Brooklyn. He attended Cornell
University in Ithaca, New York, and received
a Ph.D. in Engineering Science from the
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.
Gourdine built a multi-million dollar corpo-
ration that is based on his ideas in the field of
electrogasdynamics (EGD). Using the princi-
ples of EGD, Gourdine successfully convert-
ed natural gas to electricity for everyday use.
Applications of EGD include refrigeration,
desalination of sea water, and reducing the
pollutants in smoke. He holds more than 40
patents for various inventions. In 1964,
served on the President's Panel on Energy.
Mark Dean and his co-inventor Dennis
Moeller created a microcomputer system
with bus control means for peripheral pro-
cessing devices. Their invention paved the
way for the growth in the information tech-nology industry. We can plug into our com-
puters peripherals like disk drives, video
gear, speakers, and scanners.
Dean was born in Jefferson City, Tennessee,
on March 2, 1957. He received his under-
graduate degree in electrical engineering
from the University of Tennessee, his MSEE
from Florida Atlantic University, and his
Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford
University. Early in his career at IBM, Dean
was chief engineer working with IBM per-
sonal computers. The IBM PS/2 Models 70
and 80 and the Color Graphic Adapter are
among his early work. He holds three of
IBM's original nine PC patents.
Currently, Dean is vice president of per-
formance for the RS/6000 Division. He was
named an IBM fellow in 1996 and in 1997,
received the Black Engineer of the Year
President's Award. Dean holds more than 20
patents. He was inducted into the National
Inventors Hall of Fame in 1997.
When you can do the common things in life
in an uncommon way, you will command the
attention of the world. - George Washington
Carver.
"He could have added fortune to fame,
but, caring for neither, he found happiness
and honor in being helpful to the world."
George Washington Carver's epitaph sums upa life-time of innovative discovery. Born into
slavery, freed as a child, curious throughout
life, Carver profoundly affected the lives of
people throughout the nation. He successful-
ly shifted Southern farming away from risky
cotton, which depletes soil of its nutrients, to
nitrate-producing crops such as peanuts,
peas, sweet potatoes, pecans, and soybeans.
Farmers began rotating crops of cotton one
year with peanuts the next.
Carver spent his early childhood with a
German couple who encouraged his educa-
tion and early interest in plants. He received
his early education in Missouri and Kansas.
He was accepted into Simpson College in
Indianola, Iowa, in 1877 and in 1891, trans-
ferred to Iowa Agricultural College (now
Iowa State University) where he earned a B.S.
in 1894 and an M.S. in 1897. Later that year
Booker T. Washington, founder of the
Tuskegee Institute, convinced Carver to serve
as the school's director of agriculture. From
his laboratory at Tuskegee, Carver developed325 different uses for peanuts--until then con-
sidered lowly food fit for hogs--and 118 prod-
ucts from the sweet potato. Other Carver
innovations include synthetic marble from
sawdust, plastics from woodshavings, and
writing paper from wisteria vines.
Carver only patented three of his many
discoveries. "God gave them to me," he said
"How can I sell them to someone else?"
Upon his death, Carver contributed his life
savings to establish a research institute at
Tuskegee. His birthplace was declared a
national monument in 1953, and he was
inducted into the National Inventors Hall of
Fame in 1990.
Charles Drew, a Washington, D.C. native,
excelled in academics and sports during his
graduate studies at Amherst College in
Massachusetts. He was also a honor student
at McGill University Medical School in
Montreal, where he specialized in physiolog-
ical anatomy.
It was during his work at Columbia
University in New York City where he made
his discoveries relating to the preservation of
blood. By separating the liquid red blood
cells from the near solid plasma and freezing
the two separately, he found that blood could
be preserved and reconstituted at a later date
The British military used his processextensively during World War II, establishing
mobile blood banks to aid in the treatment of
wounded soldiers at the front lines. After the
war, Drew was appointed the first director of
the American Red Cross Blood Bank. He
received the Spingarn Medal in 1944 for his
contributions. He died at the early age of 46
from injuries suffered in a car accident in
North Carolina.
Percy Lavon Julian synthesized
physostigmine for treatment of glaucoma and
cortisone for the treatment of rheumatoid
Currently, Dean is vice president of performance for the RS/6000 Division. He was
named an IBM fellow in 1996 and in 1997, received the Black Engineer of the YearPresident's Award. Dean holds more than 20 patents. He was inducted into theNational Inventors Hall of Fame in 1997.
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arthritis. He is also noted for a fire-extin-
guishing foam for gasoline and oil fires. Born
in Montgomery, Alabama, Julian had little
schooling because Montgomery provided
limited public education for Blacks.
However, he entered DePauw University as a
"sub-freshman" and graduated in 1920 as
class valedictorian. He then taught chemistry
at Fisk University, and in 1923, earned a
master's degree from Harvard University. In
1931, Julian received his Ph.D. from theUniversity of Vienna.
He returned to DePauw University, where
his reputation was established in 1935 by
synthesizing physostigmine from the calabar
bean. Julian went on to become director of
research at the Glidden Company, a paint and
varnish manufacturer. He developed a
process for isolating and preparing soy beanprotein, which could be used to coat and size
paper, to create cold water paints, and to size
textiles. During World War II, Julian used a
soy protein to produce AeroFoam, which suf-
focates gasoline and oil fires.
Julian was noted most for his synthesis of
cortisone from soy beans, used in treating
rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory
conditions. His synthesis reduced the price of
cortisone. Julian was inducted into the
National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1990.
So, you want the "real McCoy?" That
means you want the "real thing," what you
know to be of the highest quality, not an inferi-
or imitation. The saying may refer to a famous
African-American inventor named Elijah
McCoy. He earned more than 50 patents, but
the most famous one was for a metal or glass
cup that fed oil to bearings through a smallbore
tube. Machinists and engineers who wanted
genuine McCoy lubricators may have originat-
ed the term, "the real McCoy."
McCoy was born in Ontario, Canada, in
1843, the son of slaves who had fled
Kentucky. Educated in Scotland, he returned
to the United States to pursue a position in
his field of mechanical engineering. The onlyjob available to him was that of a locomotive
fireman/oilman for the Michigan Central
Railroad. Because of his training, he was
able to identify and solve the problems of
engine lubrication and overheating. Railroad
and shipping lines began using McCoy's new
lubricators, and Michigan Central promoted
him to an instructor in the use of his new
inventions.
Later, McCoy moved to Detroit where he
became a consultant to the railroad industry
on patent matters.Unfortunately, success
slipped away from McCoy, and he died in an
infirmary after suffering financial, mental,
and physical breakdown.
Jan Ernst Matzeliger was born in
Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana in 1852. He
immigrated to the United States at age 18 and
went to work in a shoe factory in
Philadelphia. Shoes then were hand made, a
slow tedious process. Matzeliger helped rev-
olutionize the shoe industry by developing a
shoe lasting machine that would attach thesole to the shoe in one minute.
The shoe lasting machine adjusts the shoe
leather upper snugly over the mold, arranges
the leather under the sole and pins it in place
with nails while the sole is stitched to the
leather upper.
Matzeliger died poor, but his stock in the
machine was quite valuable. He left it to hisfriends and to the First Church of Christ in
Lynn, Masschusetts.
Garrett Morgan was born in Paris,
Kentucky in 1877. As a self-educated man,
he went on to make an explosive entry into
the field of technology. He invented a gas
inhalator when he, his brother, and some vol-
unteers were rescuing a group of men caught
by an explosion in a smoke-filled tunnel
under Lake Erie. Although this rescue earned
Morgan a gold medal from the City of
Cleveland and the Second International
Exposition of Safety and Sanitation in New
York, he was unable to market his gas inhala-
tor because of racial prejudice. However, the
U.S. Army used his device as gas masks for
combat troops during World War I. Today,
fire fighters save lives because, by wearing a
similar breathing device, they are able to
enter burning buildings without harm from
smoke or fumes.
Morgan used his gas inhalator fame to sell
his patented traffic signal with a flag-type
signal to the General Electric Company for
use at street intersections to control the flow
of traffic.
Dr. Patricia E. Bath's passionate dedica-tion to the treatment and prevention of blind-
ness led her to develop the Cataract
Laserphaco Probe. The probe, patented in
1988, is designed to use the power of a laser
to quickly and painlessly vaporize cataracts
from patients' eyes, replacing the more com-
mon method of using a grinding, drill-like
device to remove the afflictions. With anoth-
er invention, Bath was able to restore sight to
people who had been blind for over 30 years.
Bath also holds patents for her invention in
Japan, Canada, and Europe.
Bath graduated from the Howard
University School of Medicine in 1968 and
completed specialty training in ophthalmolo-
gy and corneal transplant at both New York
University and Columbia University. In
1975, Bath became the first African-
American woman surgeon at the UCLA
Medical Center and the first woman to be on
the faculty of the UCLA Jules Stein Eye
Institute. She is the founder and first presi-
dent of the American Institute for thePrevention of Blindness. Bath was elected to
Hunter College Hall of Fame in 1988 and
elected as Howard University Pioneer in
Academic Medicine in 1993.
The aroma of sausage and scrapple cook-
ing in kitchens along the east coast of
American has made it a little easier for kids
to get up in the morning. With quickenedsteps to the breakfast table, families enjoy the
fruits of the diligence and hard work of
Henry Green Parks, Jr. He started the Parks
Sausage Company in 1951 using distinctive,
tasty southern recipes he developed for
sausage and other products.
Parks registered several trademarks, but
the radio and television commercial featuring
a child's voice demanding "More Parks
Sausages, mom," is probably the most
famous. After consumer complaints about the
youngster's perceived disrespect, Parks
added the word "please" to his slogan.
The company, with meager beginnings in
an abandoned dairy plant in Baltimore
Maryland, and two employees, grew into a
multi-million dollar operation with more
than 240 employees and annual sales exceed-
ing $14 million. Black Enterprise continually
cited H. G. Parks, Inc., as one of the top 100
black firms in the country.
Parks sold his interest in the company for
$1.58 million in 1977, but remained on the
board of directors until 1980. Parks also
served on the corporate boards of Magnovox,
First Penn Corp., Warner Lambert Co., and
W.R. Grace Co., and was a trustee ofGoucher College of Baltimore. He died on
April 14, 1989, at the age of 72.
Matzeliger died poor, but his stock in the machine was quite valuable. He left it to hisfriends and to the First Church of Christ in Lynn, Masschusetts.
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Depicted in the quilt are pictures of:A quilt made by Phyllis, a slave imported fromthe Congo in 1818 when she was 12 or 13 yearsold. She became the plantation cook and quilter.
Arare picture of an African American woman and herquilt after emancipation, around 1890. The quiltappears to be a treasured possession; however, fewslave quilts survived the heavy use and harsh laun-
dering.Larger plantations in the antebellum South hadspecially equipped buildings known as "sewinghouses" or "loom rooms" in which all the sewing,quilting, and weaving took place.
Occasionally, slave women and plantation mis-tresses developed special relationships and coop-eratively quilted. Jane Arthur Bond and her mis-tress Rebecca Bond Routt became friends and
together sewed several quilts which still exist.African American women first learned to sew andquilt as slaves and they sewed for their ownersand themselves. Although men worked with tex-tiles in western African countries, slave ownersinsisted women slaves do the sewing, weaving,and quilting.
Women slaves dominated plantation textile pro-duction during the 18th and 19th centuries; how-ever, they did not own the quilts they made. Slaveswho became skilled quilters often enjoyed higherstatus, better food, clothing, housing, and morefreedom of movement.
Despite the hardships for slave women, theychose to quilt for themselves after working longdays in their owner's fields or house and takingcare of their own families. Quilting offered arefuge from slavery, a creative outlet, and achance to make something for themselves.
African American
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The history of the quilt as it pertains toAfrican-Americans during slavery isweaved through stories passed down
from generation to generation. Children sit-ting in laps and at feet listening while BigMama lovingly and majestically dramatiz-es events of the past as it was told to her.
The story begins with the UndergroundRailroad. As rumor has it, run away slavestraveled under the blanket of darkness todestinations of opportunity and freedom.While traveling they were in need of placesto go for restoration and refuge. They need-ed safe houses. As it is told, slave women
would sew pieces of material, ranging fromold garments to empty flour sacks togethercreating quilts. In the center of the quilt wasan image of a log cabin with a black circle forthe chimney hole. This image symbolizingsafety was hung in the windows of the safehouses. Run away slaves would spot thequilts and know that this was a place ofrefuge and safety.
In the minds of the listeners are visions ofblack women sewing pieces of old garmentstogether to form these quilts, taking extrameasures to design the log cabin with a chim-ney hole in the center of the quilt represent-ing safety for those on their way to freedom.We embrace the camaraderie experienced inthis endeavor as homes were opened to helpfellow men and women regardless of theunforeseen consequence if they were foundout. We imagine humanity at its best.
To date no evidence supporting any of thesestories has been found. Other stories toldthat slaves would take pieces of materialfrom a family member's clothing before theywere sold or traded. They would take thetorn garment and sew it along with otherrags into quilts and use the quilts forwarmth. They took pride in taking some-thing that was old and worn and creatingsomething of beauty and uniqueness.
Although no evidence has been found sup-porting the theory of the quilts, one has towonder where the stories originated and ifthere is some truth to the different varia-
tions of this particular story. Be it fact or fic-tion, the teller has weaved a believablestory filled with love, compassion andhope.
Quilting: Legacy
by S.L. Woods
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Did You Hear
What I think I Said?The Impactof Nonverbal Communication onCorporate Diversity
P.S. Perkins, Founder & CEOHuman Communication Institute, LLC
Nonverbal Communicationwithin the corporate cultureis often overlooked and/or
undervalued in its impact upon theh e a l t h o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n .Communication Practitioners oftencite that Nonverbal Communicationaccounts for as much as 93 percent ofan individuals believability. This 93percent can be broken down into 55percent visual and 38 percent vocal(not to be confused with verbal). Inother words, the old saying actionsspeak louder than words is just astrue today as when it was coined cen-turies ago. Lets take a closer look atthe impact this area of communicationhas on the organizational culture.
What is Nonverbal Communication?As a Communication Practitioner, Idefine nonverbal communication asthe unspoken messages transmittedand received that we are aware of andthose we are not aware of. Yes, thereare times we intentionally transmitmessages such as when we dress for acertain occasion and there are timeswhen we are not aware of messageswe send as when we exhibit a nerv-ous body tic like fidgeting. Oftentimes when we think of NonverbalCommunication (NVC), we immedi-
ately focus on body language orfacial expressions. And whereasNVC does include these elements,they are only small part of a vastarea of behavioral study. One of thefirst things we must be aware of isthat NVC is culturally bound. Thismeans that as language symbols dif-fer from culture to culture, so do non-verbal symbols differ from culture toculture.
Our NVC language is often the biggest cultural barrier. As a result,even though the corporate environ-ment may include workers thatattempt to speak the same verbal lan-guage, many are definitely not speak-ing the same nonverbal language. Asmany diverse cultures attempt toassimilate to the Eurocentric lan-guage patterns of the organization,they still DO NOT assimilate to thenonverbal language patterns of theorganization UNLESS advised orforced to do so. Often this coerciontakes place as a result of someinfringement that can no longer betolerated by the dominant culture co-workers. I bring up the dominant cul-ture here because it is the entity thatdetermines what the acceptable pat-terns of NVC within the organization
are just as
it does theverbal patterns of the organization.
Now lets take a look at some ofthe areas of NVC that affect the orga-nizational communication environ-ment. The following NVC issuesoften create a substantial amount ofmiscommunication and misunder-standing between cultures. NVCincludes arenas such as: silence,appearance, space, time, touching,gestures, facial expressions, smell,paralanguage and rituals. These are-
nas of NVC communication greatlyimpact issues of negotiation, conflict,
boss/worker expectation, deadlines,promotion and EVERY area of orga-nizational progress. So in otherwords, the culturally bound nonver-
bal communication of each employee
Continued on p. 26
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5
4
1925 Palomar Oaks Way,Suite 300
Carlsbad, California 92008
Tel: 760 438-7755 Fax: 760 438-7411
www.cdm.com
A
CDM is proud to support theUrban League of San Diego County
Aviation and Transportation Design-Build-Operate Drinking Water Environmental Management
Facilities and Geotechnical Engineering Information Management Wastewater Water Resources
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is added to the mix of all organizationalinteraction. An individual may thinkthey are saying or transmitting one mes-sage and the message is being received
by the listener in a totally different way.Or they may not be trying to transmitany specific message but their nonver-
bal manner is being interpreted in a cer-tain way that impacts the co-workerrelationship and context. Just thinkabout how much miscommunicationexists between people of the same cul-ture, then add to the mix differing worldviews and NVC patterns of communi-cating. Yes, it is a lot to absorb!Lets examine a few NV arenas in an
effort to understand just how great itsimpact is on the organizational setting.First, we will examine paralanguage.Paralanguage can be defined as howyou say what you say; the noise sur-rounding your words. It includes vari-ables such as tone, pacing, accent,
dialect, emphasis, stress and so on.These tend to be regional and ethnicmarkers identifying where a person israised. However, many cultures havetranscended these basic areas of identityto include measurements such as: class,education, intelligence and viability.Yes, we often label people by howthey sound. An example of this might behow the Southern accent often labels aperson as slow or dim witted. We seethis in the television spoofs such as theDukes of Hazard, Hee Haw, and other
caricatures of Southern identity. Wenever tend to hear southern accents onNational News Broadcasts. We general-ly must tune into the BBC to hear anyaccent other than the General Americanaccent. Understand how different thismust be for individuals that live inmuch more globally aware countries.
Some individuals immediately distin-guish between Black and White culture
vocal patterns when determining an indi-viduals worth to the situation. I have anacquaintance who is an African Americanfemale professional that recently experi-enced a very traumatic dismissal from apost she held for well over eight years inspite of glowing appraisals and awardsshe received during her tenure. Sheshared with me and others who were sur-prised by her situation, that several of herEuropean American colleagues statedthat she scared them with what theydeemed abrasive communication pat-terns. They particularly cited her vocalaggression and excessive use of gesturesduring communication altercations.There were of course other variables usedto substantiate her dismissal but theaforementioned factors were included inthe determination.
It is a substantiated fact that AfricanAmericans tend to be more nonverballyexpressive in their paralanguage and
kinesics (body language). It is interestinghow this issue surfaces in many areas ofcollective behavior such as sports andpolitics. Just think of how many rules andregulations are mandated by the NBAand NFL in their attempt to curtail whatis often considered inappropriate behav-ior or apparel based mainly on the cul-tural contributions of African Americans.Notice the attention given to politicalactivist Al Sharptons manner of speakingand cultural hairstyle. Remember whenHoward Dean lost the Democratic presi-
dential nomination when he was caughtacting un-presidential while on the cam-paign trail? This is only one variable ofNVC import impacting the workplace; justthink of the infusion of multiple variables.
We experience this same phenomenonwhen distinguishing male and femalevoices and the fact that male voices andtheir speaking patterns are most oftenequated with power and dominance. So
who is more likely to be promoted andgiven positions of authority?
Time or chronemics is another NVCarena that impacts the organizationalculture. Think about the vast amount ofattention paid to meetings, deadlines,schedules, and other mandates of work-er time and bottom-line results.Remember that NVC is culturally
bound. U.S. American culture iextremely time conscious. We are futur-istic in our focus on time and consistent-ly looking to the future as ameasurement of security and attain-ment. This drives our economy and ourglobal relationships. We expect theworld to adhere to and follow our rushtowards technological and scientificachievement. Everything and I meanEVERYTHING is done according to aschedule, the clock. We punish individu-als who do not adhere to the perceivedprescription of time. When we travel and
do business, we often find it hard to dealwith the slow pace at which negotiationstake place or the lack of punctualityexhibited by others not on our schedule.We can look at structured time in twoways: activity driven (monochronic)and relationship driven (polychronic).This is a very basic way to explain acomplex social behavior. The UnitedStates and most of the technologicallydeveloped countries operate onmonochronic time. Everything is basedon the importance of the activity. The
meeting starts promptly at ___. Thedeadline is hard and fast. We live ourlives by the clock. As a result, we experi-ence a highly stressed culture. Many ofour dis-eases are the result of stress
bought on by mandates on our time.Cultures that are polychronic tend to
base their lives on harmony of relation-ships and to nature as witnessed inNative American cultures. We travel
We are futuristic in our focus on time and consistently looking tothe future as a measurement of security and attainment. This drives
our economy and our global relationships.
The ImpactofNonverbal Communication onCorporate Diversity
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south of the border or to Spain andexperience a siesta in the middle of theworking day. We visit the Caribbeanand are encouraged to slow down - noproblem man.
I remember growing up and beingaware of the cultural marker of CP Time- Colored Peoples Time. As I becameknowledgeable about time as a NVCcode, this cultural proclivity began to
make sense. After slavery, people ofAfrican descent in the U.S. became thevictims of negative caricatures andstereotypes. One of these caricatureswas Step & Fetchit. These distortionswere built on the stereotype that Blackpeople were slow and lazy. Theyrequired consistent oversight in order toget things done in a timely and profi-cient manner. Hmm Could comingfrom polychronic cultures and beingforced into monochronic patterns haveanything to do with the clashing
between the two ideologies concerningrelationship to self, others and nature?As cited earlier, there are many culturesthat have a more polychronicperception of time. I will neverforget listening to a sportcast-ers commentary on a talentedyoung Dominican athlete thathad been recruited to playminor league baseball here inthe U.S. He sang his praisesconcerning his skills and acco-lades while in the Dominican
Republic. Unfortunately, theyoung player could not seemto cut the mustard here inthe U.S. His behavior wasunprofessional and helacked discipline. Why?Well according to the com-mentator, he just could notseem to get to practice ONTIME! It appeared his familyobligations kept getting in theway. Hmm
What about the impact
appearance has on the organi-zational dynamic? We haveyoung workers in urban appar-el. Devout Islamic womenwearing head to floor coveringsfor modesty. We experienceyoung women interminglingsocial and business wear. Many
businesses establish dress codesto deal with the cultural varia-tions, but this is not alwayseasy to adjust as in the case of
cultural/religious mandates. Lastly,ponder the impact on space whenadjusting to accommodate the physi-cally challenged worker. How abouttrying to create ergonomically correctoffice space?
It should be obvious the MAJOR roleNonverbal Communication plays inworkplace dynamics. The organization-al culture thrives positively or negative-
ly based on the Communication envi-ronment and its ability to move the com-pany forward in its mission. And yes,the mission should be the connectingfactor of the organizational culture. Butit is important to remember that we all
bring ourselves to the table. Hopefully,this brief insight into the realm ofNonverbal Communication will assistyou in determining the type of trainingtools you want to incorporate into yourOrientation, Professional Developmentand Educational Training Programs. We
can all learn how to get along, but firstwe must acknowledge that our differ-ences exist and instead of mandating
that everyone become yellow pencilsor assimilate, lets move towardsOrganizational Acculturation (referencefall 2006 article) and understand the
behaviors that make us unique and sim-ilar. I hope you understood what I thinkI said! Otherwise, theres always the
future of robotics, but you did see WillSmith in I, Robot didnt you? Scary!
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As a husband, father and busi-ness owner, I know the value ofinvesting quality time with my
family. It was Wednesday morning andmy day to take my son, Galen, to pre-school. As we walked inside his class-room, I noticed seven other parentsstanding around the classroomengaged in a conversation. Three ofGalens classmates ran to greet himwith a hug and said, Galen, are yougoing on the fieldtrip?
Galen grabbed my hand and saidDaddy, will you go on the fieldtripwith me? I thought to myself, I forgotabout the fieldtrip and I have a fewwork related tasks to complete. Yes, Isaid, lets go and have some fun. Hisface beamed with excitement. That day,we had an enjoyable time together.
Solid Family FoundationWhile the growth of families
becoming business owners increase,more families are discovering the
benefits of work-life-balance. As a
business owner, people often ask me,How do you do it with four childrenfive and under? Where do you havethe time to grow your personaldevelopment company? My answer,I enjoy doing what I do, I love beingwith my family and building a suc-cessful business - it is a balancing act.
Your balancing act can work for you,your family and your job if you:
1. Commit to focusing on yourfamily before the business.
Your first obligation is family.Keep an awareness of the needs ofyour family. Have each membercommunicate their hopes,dreams, and goals and post it up.
2. Create a family vision statement.Plan family time to develop aFamily Vision Statement. Clearlyidentify the image and futureaccomplishments of your family.
3. Work toward balancing yourtime.
When it is work time, dedicatefocusing on work related tasks.For example, two hour blocks ofuninterrupted time. Schedulethirty minutes for play time withthe kids. Create a balance by hav-ing leisure and fun time. Simplyask family members what theyenjoy doing and make it a point toincorporate their fun time intoyour day.
4. Reduce levels of stress daily.
Discover what you enjoy doing torelax. To reduce stress, I takewalks, listen to music, and read
books.5. Develop supportive relation-
ships with other families.Connect with other families whoare committed to creating a solidfoundation and successful busi-ness. Communicate and share suc-cess stories and areas of challenge.
It may seem difficult at times, how-ever; there is a tremendous joy when
you create a solid family and a suc-cessful business simultaneously. Thefrequent challenge is how to effective-ly dedicate quality family time. Mywife Kimberly and I know that we aremodeling leadership skills that willaffect our children for a life time. Ourchildren are excited to join us as wecreate a legacy of future entrepre-neurs.
Successful Business Approach Just as your family needs you to
thrive, your business does too. Taking
the necessary steps to expand yourbusiness will keep you happy as well.
1. Commit to the vision.A vision statement paints the pic-ture of what direction the busi-ness is going.
2. Surround yourself with peoplethat have an enormous vision oflife and business.Create a network with other pro-fessional business owners and
leverage their strengths withyours.
3. Involve your family in the busi-ness.Family members are innovativethinkers; incorporate some of theirideas into your business. Your kidsenjoy just being in your presenceand they gain an appreciation foryour business. Our kids help dis-tribute seminar flyers in theevenings and weekends.
4. Awareness of business trends.Keep alert of the conductions ofthe market in your industry. Stayahead of the market trends by
being innovative and different. Bethe first to introduce a new prod-uct or service to the market.Expand your knowledge and beopen to learning new things.
The major element to building asolid family foundation and successful
business is appreciating the values andgifts each member contributes.
Furthermore, setting the pace of yourday with your family and work inmind creates life-work-balance.Nevertheless consider, at the end ofyour day, tilting the balancing scalesmore to the family side. The greatestgift families can give each other is theencouragement to go for their dreams.
Wil Cason is a speaker, author, and train-er and resides in Northern California.Email [email protected]
Building aSolid Family Foundationand Successful Business
By, Wil Cason
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If your childhood was anything likemine, you grew up hearing thesame clichs about money day inand day out. This is especially true ifyou grew up in a family or communitywhere money was a consistent issue ofconcern. Actually, I consider myself oneof the more fortunate individuals; atleast my mother and father tried to
discuss their financial hardships awayfrom the impressionable ears of uskids, but we still were not spared the
burden they felt trying to make endsmeet or robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Take a moment to listen to thosearound you. Listen to yourself and thediscussions you have concerningmoney. Is your communicationconcerning finances poverty driven?Are you speaking yourself into finan-cial wealth or financial death? True, weare living in hard times, but when havetimes not been hard for marginalized
groups or the working class poor ofAmerica, the majority of the world forthat matter? However, even the richhave bills and financial concerns. So theissue becomes how do we break thecycle of generational poverty plaguingour community. This article seeks toexamine just one area, but an importantone concerning the question of the per-petuation of poverty within our families.
According to the Current PopulationSurvey (CPS), 2006 Annual Social andEconomic Supplement (ASEC), thesource of official poverty estimates
cited by the U.S. Census Bureau, pover-ty rates remained statisticallyunchanged for Blacks (24.9 percent) andHispanics (21.8 percent) between 2004and 2005. The poverty rate decreasedfor non-Hispanic Whites (8.3 percent in2005, down from 8.7 percent in 2004). Insingle female-headed households, thepoverty rate was at 39.2 in 2005.Obviously, race and class are contribut-ing factors to these numbers. How dowe break the cycle?
We all understand that education is akey factor in uplifting any individualout of unemployment and underem-ployment. We also understand that it isvital to save and create nest eggs for ourretirement and childrens future. Weveheard the value of creating 401Ks, IRAs,Stock Portfolios and other financial plan-ning safeguards. But how many of us are
really getting the urgency of financialplanning? And do we talk about theseissues at home with our children?According to an article written by TomAbate entitled, Americans Saving Lessthan Nothing, Kevin Lansing, aneconomist with the Federal Reserve Bankin San Francisco, tracks the personal sav-ings rate -- the Commerce Departmentsmeasure of how much consumers haveleft after spending is subtracted fromincome. In November (2005) the savingsrate was a negative 0.2 percent. (SanFrancisco Chronicle, 1/8/2006) These
statistics reflect our nation as a whole. Sowhats the solution?For those of us who were born into a
mentality of poverty, I want to suggestthat we start to SPEAK WEALTH! Weneed to change our language concern-ing money in our homes, in our church-es, in our communities. We need aNEW financial attitude! We need tocompletely refrain, STOP talking aboutwhat we do not have, what we arenever going to have, how broke we are!We expend too much negative energyon thinking and talking about money.
Many of us are acquainted with thebible scripture which states, As a manthinketh, so is he. Now, I am not try-ing to preach prosperity ministry.What I am speaking about is the under-standing that you can not achieve whatyou can not believe! It is a fact. Toomany of us speak poverty and expectriches. Have you ever stopped to thinkthat your thoughts are energy?Everything, I mean everything evercreated was first a thought that became
a word which then became a thing!Why do you think so many of the wisesages and teachers of our past andpresent placed so much emphasis onteaching us to guard our mouths? Inthe beginning was the WORD. This isthe creative power we ALL possess.The universe DOES answer every deepthought and desire. The Law of
Attraction is a real principle thatworks like any other universal princi-ple. I assert that the major factor per-petuating poverty within our house-holds is the absence of positive energytowards thinking, communicating andworking towards wealth.Think about it. How do you communi-cate about money with your children?What is your general attitude concern-ing finances? I am sure if you take aclose look and start to monitor the wayyou think and speak about money, youmay find that it is the mentality of lack
that is keeping you and your familyimpoverished. Yes, it all begins in themind, even the effort it takes toredesign your life. Finding work, going
back to school, finding a new job, build-ing a dream - IT ALL TAKES POSTIVETHOUGHT - FAITH! We need to breakthe cycle of poverty in our homes whichwill then ripple out into our communi-ties and into the society-at-large. Freeyour mind and the rest will follow. Itonly takes a word - YOUR WORD!
Freeing Our Familiesfrom Generational PovertyThe old ball and chain. Money doesn't grow on trees. I'm not made ofmoney. A paycheck away from poverty. From hand to mouth. We can't
afford that. When I win the lotto. I'm just waiting for my ship to come in.Do I look like Rockefeller to you? Do I look like Santa Claus?
By, P.S. Perkins
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1. List nominee name, address, phone number, ax number,e-mail address and number o employees.
2. What has your frm or organization done to develop amulticultural understanding and appreciation in yourcommunity?
3. What has your frm or organization done to develop amulticultural understanding and appreciation in the SanDiego region?
4. How has your frm's commitment to diversity made adierence within your proession or industry?
To nominate a deserving frm (yours included), briey answer theollowing questions on your company letterhead:
N O M I N A T I O N C R I TE R I A
March 29, 200711:30 a.m. -2:00 p.m.
Marriott Hotel & Marina333 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, Ca. 92101
Submission Deadline: Feb. 23, 2007
5. What programs or other strategies are implemented withinyour own workplace to recognize or promote diversity?
6. List nominator name, address, phone number and e-mailaddress.
7. List two reerence frms with contact inormation(such as law frm and accounting frm).
8. Mail or e-mail high resolution color logo and one or twocompany or sta photos to one o the addresses below.
2007 Keynote
Speaker
7
To celebrate the multicultural spirit oour region, the San Diego Business JournalsMulticultural Heritage Awards will honorSan Diegos most prestigious frms, largeand small, or their commitment to diversityin their company and community.
Companies can be nominated byollowing the simple instructions below.
Award recipients will receive specialrecognition at the event and in the BusinessJournal. Nominees will also be recognizedin the newspaper.
Presents theMulticultural Heritage
Awards 07
For more information contact Sara Wiese at 858-277-6359, Ext. 3143.Fax nomination information to 858-277-2149, e-mail to [email protected] or mail to
San Diego Business Journal Events Department 4909 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92123.
Co-Sponsored by:
Ruben BarralesPresident & CEOSan Diego Regional
Chamber oCommerce
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At Raytheon, an inclusive culture is one of the things we believe gives us a competitive advantage. By recognizingthe uniqueness of individuals, empowering employees, and truly valuing their input, our company consistently performs
beyond all expectations. Its a philosophy well always embrace. Its right for people, and its right for business.
A diversity of great technology and solutionsstarts with a diversity of great people
2006 Raytheon Company. All rights reserved. Raytheon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and welcomesa wide diversity of applicants. U.S. citizenship and security clearance may be required. Customer Success Is Our Missionis a registered trademark of Raytheon Company.
Were proud to feature Raytheon employees in
our ads. To join them in a rewarding career, visit
www.rayjobs.com
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While traveling throughEurope, Africa and TheMiddle East in the 1980's, I
was simply amazed at how the Greeks built a temple over a Roman one,which in turn had a Greek one on topof it, which in turn had a Roman oneon top of it and so on up to 12 levels.
Photos of statues from the MiddleEast and Africa had been mutilated asthe picture to the right to disguiseAfrican features.
As I traveled the world and
studied different historical accountsof people, I realized the powers incharge of telling the history of multi-ple cultures practiced covering upand distorting history to benefit andadvance their personal world view.
Talk to people about the origin of theword Europe. Have you ever heard ofPrincess Europa? Neither had I until I
began to search more deeply into the his-tory of Blacks throughout the world.
In wonderment, I have witnessed ourBlack History Month celebrations whit-tled down to a few hundred years of
Black contributions from American slav-ery to the present. This is not enough tohonor the legacy of a people incrediblysignificant to world history.So, why focus on the past? Why is itimportant?
Black people must understand whothey are in order to move forward.
Hate kills the hater. Those who hateus, never win, until we hate them, thatis when we destroy ourselves, saidRichard Nixon during his impeach-ment.
Some Black people are consumed
with hatred. It results in us killing our-selves. It results in our families beingdestroyed. It results in the proliferationof shame. Shame is the driving emotion
behind an out of control chemicaladdiction rate. A large portion of the
Black populationis incarcerated bya judicial systemthat treats the ill-ness of addictionas a penal issueinstead of a med-ical one.
The civilrights movementwas stopped bythe introductionof drugs into ourneighborhoods.
Now, drug usehas spread widelyto rural areas with
gang violence, the destruction of fami-lies and prisons bursting at the seamswith people who should be in treat-ment.
Many