Black History 365 | #38 - Jerry Lawson

This is Jerry Lawson, and in the mid-70s Lawson worked as the director of engineering and marketing at Fairchild Semiconductor when the company created the Fairchild Channel F – a home entertainment machine that allowed people to play a variety of games. This paved the way for systems such as the Atatri 2600, Nintendo, Xbox and Playstation. Lawson pioneered the video game cartridge. He was actually mostly a self-taught engineer and interacted with other people through the Homebrew Computing Club who would later become even more influential in the technology industry. Like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who he interviewed.

Lawson also interacted with other people who would later become even more influential in the technology industry, such as Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, in the Homebrew Computing Club.

Black History 365 | # 43 - Marie Selika Williams

This is Marie Selika Williams. She was the first star soprano singer and the first black artist to perform at The White House in 1878. She was known as the “queen of staccato.” After her performing at the White House she continued to perform nationally performing for all-black audiences, eventually performing in Europe for Queen Victoria and in the West Indies.

Black History 365 | # 5 Africa (Alkebulan)

The ancient name of the continent we know as Africa, was originally named Alkebulan (Al-que-boo-lahn) it is the oldest and the only word of indigenous origin. It was used by the Moors, Nubians, Numidians, Carthaginians, and Ethiopians meaning the garden of Eden or the mother of mankind. It wasn’t until the 17th century where the word Africa was introduced. Aphrike is a Greek word meaning “without cold.”

Black History 365 | # 4 - Ethiopia

The oldest known skeletal remains of modern humans were excavated at sites in East Africa. It was dug up at Omo in Ethiopia and were dated at 195,000 years old, the oldest known in the world. This would make Africa the mother of civilization.

Black History 365 | # 28 - Robert Townsend

Do you know about the significance of Robert Townsend? Initially starting off as a comedian and actor Robert went through Hollywood in standard fashion, taking auditions and casting calls and whatnot. He saw how black actors had very few jobs, and essentially no films to get into. The few roles offered were very stereotypical. And damaging to the psyche of the crowds that watched it. Especially for the black people it depicted. That’s if you believe that we’re effected by the images we see on our TV and/or movie screens, whether fiction or non-fiction. There was a huge lack of work for the black community in the film industry, and this is what drove Robert Townsend to not only become a writer and actor, but to become a director. So, he could direct films for black people to star in and provide jobs. When Robert Townsend directed and acted in the movie Hollywood Shuffle, a satire film on the experience of black actors in Hollywood. He gave a voice to many under-appreciated people and changed a lot of stereotypical thoughts about black films. Not only that — Townsend maxed out a handful of credit cards, or $60,000 in debt, to make the film. Which went on to gross more than $5 million at the box office.