Answer To: Discuss three specific contributions by African Americans you deem critical. Discuss their...
Abhinaba answered on Apr 24 2021
Running Head: AFRICAN–AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR RELATION TO MODERN DAY AMERICA 1
AFRICAN–AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR RELATION TO MODERN DAY AMERICA 2
AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR RELATION TO MODERN DAY AMERICA
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Three Specific Contributions Made by African Americans 3
Historical figures and their significance 4
Importance of the contributors and their relation to modern day America 6
Conclusion 10
References 11
Introduction
Past is prologue. It sets the stage for the upcoming generation. To understand the past and its relevance, one must dig deep into human history. Be it any nation, the only species responsible for major transformation is human, apparently the most influential species on the planet. United States of America being the richest and the most developed country in the world is no different. It is also a country, where people from different races have found their way into th development of a diverse society. African Americans have a major impact in shaping America’s history and their triumph must be acknowledged. The United States marks the month of February as “Black History Month” to acknowledge the work done by Black Americans. The collective future of the citizens of United States of America depends on the progress in science and technology. To address their impact in shaping the United States, we will specifically discuss about three influential contributors, their historical significance, and their share of contributions in charting the future.
Three Specific Contributions Made by African Americans
The first and the foremost contribution that we will be discussing is that of a great leader. The year 1957 marks the day of civil rights movement when an African American leader establishes Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He also led The Civil Rights Act that actively worked to wipe out discrimination in the workforce and also ensured fair pay for the workers and the voting Rights Act that strive to protect the right to vote for African Americans. Suppressed and attacked several times by the public, he was firm on nonviolence and led the struggle in a notable way that paved the path for future. Many opposed his belief that all men are equal and should enjoy equal rights and privileges. The well known “I have a dream “speech by him pushed the civil right laws further. According to Owens (2019), Martin LutherKing Jr. was an important personality in many civil rights movements between the 1950s and ‘60s and it was because of him that workers who protested for equal pay and rights got justice.
An eminent personality and world changing women inventor who paved the way for the blind- In 1981 Dr. Patricia Bath started her phenomenal work to discover and design advice for cataract surgery called as LaserphacoProbe (Mosca, 2017). The device proved to be miraculous for cataract patients. It used laser technology that gave precise results and patients experienced less pain during the whole process. Her team operated the patients who could not afford treatments free. In 1988 she went ahead and the patented the device to bag the honor of first Black American female doctor to be granted a patent. Bath contributed extensively to medical science in the area of ophthalmology
The third contribution is by a breakthrough researcher on plant biology and focusing on the development of crops and their various uses, this African American catered to people’s most essential need – food. He researched on growing crops in an efficient manner, which includes peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and pecans. Recognized as the Peanut man, he invented hundreds of products being made from a not so famous ingredient peanut. Almost 300 products are made from peanut such as milk, medicinal oils, paints, dyes, soap, ink and many more. More than 100 products were being made from sweet potato such as flour, vinegar, molasses, synthetic rubber and many more (Kremer, 2017).
Historical figures and their significance
A faithful figurehead and a martyr, he changed the world by bringing in the requisite concept that levelled the human civilization worldwide. In the year 1955, Martin Luther King became one of the prominent faces in the Montgomery Bus boycott that was sparked by Rosa Parks. King and his followers boycotted the essential bus service for almost 390 days as the bus system followed segregation. They non-violently put their point forward and walked long miles to work. Their aim was to remove the segregation system that prevailed in public buses that is discriminatory and unlawful. He formed the Southern Christian leadership conference that worked for civil rights (Cooke, 2016). King’s speech “I have a Dream” that was conveyed in 1963 to over 2,00,000 people made a significant impact and pressurized then President Lyndon B. Johnson’s administrative team to pass civil liberties laws through congress. As noted by Jenkins (2018), people of Memphis will always be grateful to King for what he has done for the Memphis sanitation worker. In 1968, he travelled to Memphis to fight for black workers who...