Table of Contents
Topic: Black History MonthThemeCentral Idea: Three unrecognized Africans in Black HistoryThesis Statement: The Impact Sara Boone, Dred Scott, and Mansa Musa made in Black History
Introduction:
The southern states were highly concerned about their economy becoming endangered by the abolishment of slavery. Dred Scott knew he was a man and he wanted his freedom for himself and his family.
Attention GetterLearning Team C will discuss Black History Month. In our speech, we will hit the history on black history month, and we will be sharing three individuals Dred Scott, Sarah Boone and Mansa Musa who we feel made an impact but are not capitalized enough. The story of Black History Month begins in 1915, half a century after the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery in the united states but it wasn’t till 1976 when it was really recognized thanks to President Ford. Black History first started out only a weeklong celebration, after recognizing how Black History then became the whole month of February. February became the month of black history month because of the two individuals that greatly influenced African Americans. They were Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
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Black history month is a reminder of the struggles, tribulations, and achievements of black people both past and present.Relevancy: Why does your audience care? Body:It was in 1964 when the author James Baldwin reflected on the shortcomings of his education. Baldwin’s thoughts echoed those of many before and after him. Half a century earlier, when Carter G. Woodson had the same frustration, he set the foundation for what would become today’s national Black History Month, observed each February. Woodson witnessed how black people were underrepresented in the books and conversations that shaped the study of American history. According to the way many historians taught the nation’s past, African Americans were barely part of the story—a narrative that Woodson knew was not true. In 1926, Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History launched a “Negro History Week” to bring attention to his mission and help school systems coordinate their focus on the topic.
Woodson chose the second week in February, as it encompassed both Frederick Douglass’ birthday on February 14 and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12.By the mid-1960s, the most popular textbook for eighth-grade U.S. history classes mentioned only two black people in the entire century of history that had transpired since the Civil War—and that problem could no longer be ignored. It was in that decade that colleges and universities across the country transformed the week into a Black History Month on campus.Main idea one: Sara BooneSarah Marshall Boone was an African American female believed to be one of the first African American females awarded a patent for the invention of the improved ironing board. The improved ironing board was designed to more suited iron sleeves easier and iron women clothes. Sarah was born into slavery in North Carolina on January 1, 1832. Sarah married James Boone on November 25, 1847. The couple had eight children together.
During Sarah’s time as a dressmaker, she had the idea to make improvements to the ironing board. Sarah’s idea was to make the board more standard, stable, and efficient than the current ironing boards during her time. In Sarah’s patent application, Sarah stated “the purpose of her inventions is to produce a cheap, simple, convenient, and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeve and the body of ladies garments.” The board was made of wood, curved and extremely narrow to fit the sleeve. The board was also reversible in order to iron both sides of the sleeve. Sarah Boone’s invention was the beginning of today’s modern ironing board. Sarah Boone died in 1904. She rests peacefully in Evergreen Cemetery in New Haven. Main idea two: Dred ScottDred Scott was born into slavery around 1799, in Southampton County, Virgina. Dred moved with his first owner around age of nineteen, Peter Blow. After twelve years he moved with his owner to Alabama. Two years following the death of his owner, Dred was bought by John Emerson, a surgeon and they moved to Illinois, a free state, and then to Fort Snelling in the Wisconsin Territory, where slavery was abolished by the Missouri Compromise.
After moving over the course of his life Dred’s quest to sue for his freedom from slavery lasted approximately nearly two decades. Not only did he sue for his freedom, but he also sued for his wife and two daughters. In 1843, Emerson died, thus transferring ownership of Dred and his family to Emerson’s wife Eliza. After multiple attempts to buy his freedom, they were unsuccessful, Irene refused. Three years later Dred and his wife filed separate lawsuits against Irene based on two Missouri statutes. Irene transferred Scott and his family to her brother, John Sanford. She still had some ownership with the Scott’s. The Scott’s went to trial and in January 1850 and won their freedom, but it was later revoked. It was not until 1858 when The Scott’s truly won their freedom. Dred Scott died one year later.Consider that in case of Dred Scott v. Sanford, Fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Roger Taney became best known for writing the final majority opinion in Dred Scott v. Sanford, which said that all people of African descent, free or slave, were not United States citizens and therefore had no right to sue in federal court.Above all for unknown reasons, Dred and Harriet Scott never tried to run away or sue for freedom while living in or traveling through free states and territories.Main idea three: Mansa MusaMansa Musa, In 1312 he became the tenth Mansa, which translates to “sultan”, conqueror or emperor, of the wealthy West African territory called Mali.
The Mali Empire was very rich in many resources with the main 2 being salt & GOLD! During his reign Mansa Musa was the largest Gold producer in the world! At one point in time there was exceptional demand for the commodity making him the richest person in history. Time magazine reported: “There’s really no way to put an accurate number on his wealth.” Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim and would spend much time fostering the growth of the religion within his empire. During his reign there were many stories, legends or wild tales being told about him throughout Africa & the rest of the world. It wasn’t until 1325 when the world really got a glimpse of his wealth when he took a 4,000-mile pilgrimage to MECCA.Mansa Musa’s caravan was estimated to be over 500,000 people: 80,000 in soldiers, the rest slaves, handlers & concubines, along with thousands of Camels, horses and other exotic animals. Everyone draped in the finest Persian fabrics, robes and GOLD. Musa gave gold to the poor he met along his route. Musa not only gave to the cities he passed on the way to Mecca, including Cairo and Medina, but also traded gold for souvenirs. Musa’s generous actions inadvertently devastated the economies of the regions through which he passed. In the cities of Cairo, Medina, and Mecca, the sudden influx of gold totally devalued the metals and resources in those regions for the next decade. Prices of goods and wares became greatly inflated.This is the only time recorded in history that one man directly controlled the price of gold in the world! To quantify Mansa Musa’s wealth Forbes Magazine says, “In today’s time Mansa Musa would be considered a ZILLIONAIRE!!!!”
CONCLUSION:
Summary: reiterate your main ideasAs one of the first African American women, Sarah Boone pave the way for many more African America women to become inventors and leave a legacy for the future generation. Although Dred Scott did not live long after he won his case, he showed slaves how to fight what you believe in. In closing, for centuries the pilot of the black population has been in terminal as it relates to education, civil war, work, pay, basic-life style and slavery. We have had to fight for all of rights, even though we have created many things that have made America great. Unfortunately, without the sweat of African- Americans, America would not be this great country that it is today. The persistent desire of Dred Scott was eventually won. Though he dreamt of freedom and won his freedom, it was unfortunate he didn’t live long enough to fully enjoy freedom. The civil war between the union states and federate states left many who died as well.Clincher statementDo you think America would be an amazing country live in without the contributions African Americans made
References:
- (Cattina Horn)BlackPast: “Sarah Boone (1832-1904)”: Published Date: July 4, 2018, Contributed by: Daniel Helton: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/boone-sarah-1832-1904/
- A&E Television Networks: The Biography.com website. “Sarah Boone Biography.” Last Updated: 23 June 2019. Original Published Date: 2 April 2014. Accessed Date: 23 February 2020. https://www.biography.com/inventor/sarah-boone(Diana Michael-Sonko)
- A&E Television Networks: History.com Editors. “Dred Scott Case.” Last Updated: 10 February 2020.
- Original Published Dated: 27 October 2009. Accessed Date: 22 February 2020. https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/dred-scott-caseZorthian, Julia. “This Is How February Became Black History Month.” Published 16, January 2016.
- Accessed: 23 February 2020. https://time.com/4197928/history-black-history-month/
