Shoutout to Marian R. Croak. Marian Croak is the reason we’re able to speak on digital devices. She is a prolific inventor in the voice and data communication fields, with over 200 patents to her name. She is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP), technology that converts your voice into a digital signal, allowing you to make a call directly from a computer or other digital device. Croak’s career took off in 1982 when she joined AT&T Bell Laboratories. There, she served in various positions in voice and data communication for over three decades. Predicting that the Internet would take over wire technology, Croak felt compelled to develop technology that would “transform the internet.” She succeeded by establishing the fundamentals for what is now called VoIP. While climbing the ladder at AT&T Labs, Croak furthered technology in areas such as voice and text messaging on cellular phones. She invented the technology that allows people to send text-based donations to charity. She’s quoted as saying, "Many people think inventors have to be brilliant and off the charts in terms of their IQ, super smart and super academic in school and have gotten all A's, and that's not at all true. Inventors are usually people like you. Sometimes they're good at certain things, other times they're not, and that's ok. Just focus on what you want to change and you become that change and can make that change happen." How real is that? Thank you for your contributions.
Black History 365 | # 239 Bobby Hutton
This is Bobby Hutton. Lil Bobby Hutton was the first to join the newly formed Black Panther Party for Self Defense. He was only 16 years old when he joined but like many in the community he believed in the ideals that Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newton had outlined in the Ten-Point Program; he was dedicated to serving his community. On April 6, 1968, Oakland police ambushed a carload of Black Panther Party members on a side street. An hour and a half shootout ensued, resulting in the death of Bobby Hutton and the arrest of all others present on the scene. Bobby Hutton was shot more than twelve times after he had already surrendered and stripped down to his underwear to prove he was not armed. Bobby was well trusted and became the BPP’s first treasurer. Bobby was a key organizer for Black Student Unions on high school campuses. He was a key organizer of the Free Huey rallies in front of the Alameda County Courthouse. April 12th is Lil’ Bobby Hutton day. God bless you Bobby Hutton. Thank you for your contributions.
Black History 365 | # 238 Juneteenth
Happy Juneteenth everyone! June 19, 1865 in Galveston Bay Texas is when the army announced that the 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were freed by executive order. This was 2+ years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today is Juneteenth, celebrate it well.
Black History 365 | # 237 Dr. Marimba Ani
Dr. Marimba Ani (born Dona Richards) is an anthropologist whose work wrestles and concludes to de-center whiteness. Her philosophy is that it is revelatory to be able to develop theories, “definitions of reality”, and structure around one’s own culture. She is quoted as saying “You’re not an African because you’re born in Africa. You’re an African because Africa is born in you. It’s in your genes…your DNA…your entire biological make up. Whether you like it or not, that’s the way it is. However, if you were to embrace this truth with open arms…my, my, my…what a wonderful thing.” Her belief is that the African worldview is imperative to building institutions, both figuratively and literally. Centering whiteness has conditioned us off of this path to enlightenment. She is best known for her work Yurugu:An African-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behavior, a comprehensive critique of European thought and culture, and her coining of the term "Maafa" for the African holocaust. As an African Studies scholar Ani completed her BA degree at the University of Chicago, and holds MA and Ph.D. degrees in anthropology from the Graduate Faculty of the New School University. Highly advise you read her book(s) and/or sit back and check out her lecture(s). Thank you for your contributions!
Black History 365 | 236 Bobby Garnett III
Do you like Polo? Then you like Bobby Garnett, aka Bobby From Boston. Now, check this out. Bobby was a well-known source for vintage clothing, including Hollywood costume designers and the Lo-Life head honcho Ralph Lauren. Born and raised in Boston, Bobby stumbled into the vintage clothing game almost by accident, when he started stripping old shirts and jackets of their buttons at his leather working shop in South Boston. In 1995, he opened Bobby from Boston, his retail vintage shop in Boston’s South End that is as much a museum exhibition as it is a clothing store. His keen eye became legendary in fashion circles across the globe. Among his best customers were titans like Ralph Lauren. He was quoted as saying, "We sell to so many designers who use vintage for inspiration," said Garnett. "J Crew, Armani, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford." His collection provided costumes for TV shows, like Boardwalk Empire, and some 50 movies – including A Bronx Tale, A Beautiful Mind and Moonrise Kingdom. Much respect to his legacy of flyness and turning into a successful business.