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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2018 45 A World Without Black People Toni Johns facilitated our Black History Month kick-off program where members participated in a reading based on the story entitled, A World Without Black People, by Philip Meagwali. The story began with a young boy named Theo, who asked his mother the question, "Mom, What if there were no black people in the world?" The story proceeds as Theo and his mother go about their daily chores; all the items invented by black people disappeared. All of a sudden, Theo's clothes were wrinkled because there was no ironing board as it was invented by Sarah Boone, a black woman. He didn't have shoes because the shoe lasting machine was invented by Jan E. Matzelinger, a black man. He couldn't brush his hair because the hairbrush was made by Lydia O. Newman, a black female. "What a sight," his mom said; no shoes, wrinkled clothes and his hair was a mess! As Theo continued with his chores, he swept the floor but had no dust pan; it was made by Lloyd P. Ray, a black man. He couldn't mop it because it was made by Thomas W. Stewart, a black man. His laundry took longer because; the clothes dryer was made by George T. Samon, a black man. Theo tried to use a pencil to make a grocery list for his mother but had no pencil sharpener; it was made by John Love, a black man; and the pen was missing because it was made by William Purvis, a black man. Theo also couldn't mow the lawn because; the lawn mower was made by John Burr, a black man. These are just some of the key inventions that made a difference in American life. Other inventions created by black people are the invention of the automatic gearshift by Richard Spikes, a black man, and the supercharge system for internal combustion engines invented by Joseph Gammel. Garrett A. Morgan, a black man invented the traffic light. John Standard, a black man, invented the refrigerator. Alice Parker, a black female invented the heating furnace, and Frederick Jones, a black man invented the air conditioner. In addition, Henry T. Sampson invented the cellular phone; T. Marshall invented the fire extinguisher; Alexander Miles invented the elevator; and Dr. Charles Drew discovered the technique of storing blood plasma and as a result, the first blood bank was formed. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, performed the first open-heart surgery. The next AACC meeting is Monday, March 5 in the Lodge at 6 pm. For information, contact Joyce Allen at (951) 769-4354 or Roxie Elliott at (951) 769-2517 for more information. ~ Regina Thomas African American Cultural Club

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