Contributions - Past and Present

An important influence of African-American culture - nationally and internationally - has been in the field of music. The familiar "Negro spirituals," the unusual rhythms and harmonies of jazz, the sad blues melodies - all these originated with the slaves. It is often said that what is best and most original in American popular music has its roots in black culture. Important black singers, composers, and instrumentalists are too numerous to list.

The contributions of individual African-Americans have extended into every field. Looking back, one of the most interesting of black American scientists was George Washington Carver, the famous botanist. Carver began his life (probably in 1859) as a slave. Later, he revolutionized the agriculture of the South. From the ordinary peanut, Carver developed more than 300 products, including soap and ink. And from the sweet potato, he developed 118 products, including flour, shoe polish, and candy.

In recent years, many blacks have become famous in a wide range of fields. Eddie Murphy and Bill Cosby are two of several well-known black comedians. Oprah Winfrey is one of the richest and most powerful people in the entertainment industry. Two su­perstars - singer Michael Jackson and former basketball player Michael Jordan - have become international idols of the young. In intellectual fields as well, blacks have made great contributions. Among the many outstanding black American authors of the twen­tieth century are poets Gwendolyn Brooks and Maya Angelou and novelists James Bald­win, Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker. Ben Carson, an African-American surgeon, is well known for developing new methods of separating co­joined twins. In 1972, Barbara Jordan became the first black congresswoman to come from the Deep South. Since 1991, Justice Clarence Thomas has been on the U.S. Supreme Court, the highest court in the land. The Reverend Jesse Jackson has run for president a few times and has been involved in resolving international crises concern­ing hostages. In 2000, General Colin Powell was the first African American chosen to be secretary of state.

In 2008 Barack Obama has been elected as 44th President of the United States of America. He becomes the first black leader of the country in one of the biggest moments in US history. (You can find the transcription of Barack Obama's Victory Speech in the Appendix).

Given equal opportunities, African-Americans will continue to enrich American life. The third verse of "We Shall Overcome" says, "We shall all be free some day." Americans of goodwill hope that someday soon African-Americans will live free of prejudice and share the prosperity of the country that is, after all, their home.

AFTER YOU READ

1. Getting the message

A. Reread the section entitled “Slavery – From Beginning to End”. Then mark each statement true ( T ) or ( F ).

1. The slave trade was begun by Americans. ______

2. Before the Civil War, most blacks in the U.S. lived in the South. _____

3. Before the Civil War, some states allowed slavery and some did not. _____

4. Northerners didn't want more slave states to enter the Union. ______

5. None of the slaves became free until after the Civil War ended. ______

B. Compare the lives and deaths of Gandi and King.

1. What kind of protests did both men believe in?

_________________________________________________________

2. How did both men die? ______________________________________