Students get look at black history
- Original Belleville News-Democrat article: Students get look at black history
Marcus Deal, an 18-year-old who attends the Alternate High School in Alorton, spent an hour recently learning about the contributions African-Americans have made to this country.
He and others were at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center to read articles, unscramble puzzles about African-Americans and their inventions, and discuss the material about their contributions past and present.
'Everything you do in preparing yourself for today is affected by one of the inventions created by African-Americans,' said Lillian Parks, a retired educator from East St. Louis School District 189 and a member of the Gateway chapter of The Links Inc.
The group talked about Maya Angelou, Frederick Douglass, Mae Jemison, Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell, among others.
The young people learned that the clock, shoe lace, refrigerator, traffic light, lawn mower, elevator, air conditioner, ironing board, hair products, open heart surgery, blood plasma, pencil sharpener and street sweeper all were inventions created by black Americans.
The young people learned about Barack Obama, where he was born, who his parents were, and what he's trying to accomplish. The group discussed black athletes, musicians, doctors, scientists and more.
The women in The Links, an international service organization, sponsored the event in honor of Black History Month.
A theme throughout the session was 'hard work and perseverance.'
Over and over, the young people heard that they can achieve whatever they want if they put their minds to it and stick with it. The members of The Links talked about having dreams and holding on to them, and letting their stars shine brightly the way many other blacks have done.
Leonard Telford, a 16-year-old senior from East St. Louis Senior High School, said he was very happy The Links sponsored the event.
'We need to learn more about black achievers. It was really enlightening,' he said.
Bessie Peabody, president of the local chapter, which includes women from Illinois and Missouri, said the goal was 'to have these young people emulate some of the black achievers.'
'We need to inspire them to want to do, to get scholarships, and to achieve all they can,' she said
Links Incorporated is committed to education, civic and cultural activities in the arts, services to youth, national and international trends and services.
Contact reporter Carolyn P. Smith at csmith@bnd.com or 239-2503.
Copyright © 2008 Belleville News-Democrat, All Rights Reserved.
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