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Roots of Prince Georges County: Celebrating Black History

17 Digs

I’ve been invited to a party by Black History and all of my friends are telling me not to go because every year it’s the same ole boring party. They begin to tell me about the Underground Railroad and the march for Civil Rights, I frowned when they mentioned the slave trade and I didn’t understand how to play segregation but they kept saying I couldn’t get on the bus if I decided to sit up front.

I went to look for Black History, to make sure my friends didn’t mislead me and Black History surprisingly asked me to assist in the celebration. At first I was uncertain because I knew my friends would hate me, call me all types of names but I decided I’d rather help make the party great than be the one to claim it was lame.

Black History has traveled the world so I began to think how I can make this celebration special so that everyone can leave saying they did something new and appreciate Black history for its journey, wisdom and truth. My friends had to feel connected to Black History and Black History needed and wanted them to; so I named the main game of the party Roots of Prince Georges County, since Black History is in Maryland I felt it would be cherished.

My friends needed to see how much they could relate to Black History and accept that a lot could be learned as well. I typed in google the last name ‘history’ and found Maryland’s first black settlers and inventors and I just knew these games would be more exciting than the slave trade.

I thought it would be a good idea to have the party in North Brentwood, Maryland with a 1924 theme since North Brentwood was the first African American incorporated town. It was socially, politically and economically self-sufficient, the community functioned as one large closely knit family which is exactly how my friends and I will function after Black History’s celebration. The Plummer family (pictured above) was among the early settlers of North Brentwood assisting in the incorporation of the town.

If we aren’t able to have the party in North Brentwood then Fairmount Heights in Prince George's County Maryland could be an option since it is the largest and second oldest black community in the county, it was incorporated 11 years after North Brentwood.

I was also going to invite friends from Black History’s old school Lakeland High School which was built in 1928 in College Park, MD and is the first school built for blacks in Prince Georges County. I figured we would get along with students there since our school; Fairmont Heights was the second school open for black students in 1950. I remember Black History saying during a class presentation their family left Lakeland High school in 1952 because Fairmount Heights High School was the first to offer twelfth grade classes to black children. Only white children learned from grades Kindergarten to Twelfth grade prior to 1952. Although Lakeland High School was demolished its students still treasure the memories and with Fairmont Heights High School currently still operating but a new building being built its best to honor historic sites while it’s still standing.

The more I planned the more I couldn’t wait for Black History’s party, my goal was to have everyone leave motivated to unify and innovate. I felt even more empowered upon learning the first patent given to a black person was right here in Maryland to a man named Henry Blair of Montgomery County on October 14, 1834. He invented the corn seed planter which allowed farmers to plant their corn much faster and with much less labor.

I began to wonder how cool it would be if we could all leave Black History’s party motivated to have our own inventions. I plan to have a list of Prince Georges County inventors written on strips of paper and pass around a hat for each person to grab an inventors name and use that inventor as their mentor/guide for their own invention. Some of the inventors are listed below:

Dr. Valerie L. Thomas (Mitchellville, MD), invented the Illusion Transmitter, which transmits images like a TV does but displays them in the air instead of on a screen in 1980

Warren Shadd (Forestville, MD) invented the acoustic piano with MIDI sensor and selective muting of group of keys in 2001. The hit TV Show Empire currently uses his pianos.

Nathaniel Mathis (Bradbury Heights, MD) he invented the barbers apron used to hold barbers tools in 1975 and he was the was the first African American to win the International Hair Styling competition in Cairo, Egypt in 1981. Nat was known among his many satisfied clients and peers as “the Bush Doctor” for his expertise in Afro style and maintenance.

Alfred P.G. Prather (Lanham Park, MD) invented the man-powered glider aircraft in 1973.

Dannie R. Bryers (Landover, MD) invented the manual dozer in 2001 used for lifting and moving materials such as snow, debris, sand, dirt, mulch, etc.

Who knew so many inventors were so close to home? My friends can’t possibly say that this year’s Black History Celebration is boring and lame because I am planning a party to remember that will have everyone who leaves eager to make a difference.

Actually, I need to ask Black History about its popularity because this party seems like it’s going to be big enough to promote on the black owned broadcasting station, RadioOne, owned by Cathy Hughes and Dewey Hughes. RadioOne headquarters, WOL 1450 (flagship station), use to be in Lanham Md., Cathy and Dewey also own social media site blackplanet.com.

Maryland is full of African American contributions, you can learn more here.

Black History wanted me to let you know it is all over the world, personalize it, celebrate and continuously innovate to bring about positive change, every day.

References

African American Registry

Prince Georges African American Museum and Cultural Center