The Sickness Racism Breeds

[Asclepias]

The UnMuseum - Who Invented the Lightbulb?

An interesting read about the invention of the light bulb. Edison was not the first, but he did invent the first light bulb practical for mass use it seems. Like many of his inventions, he improved on what already existed.

Nope. A Black man made the light bulb practical. Lewis Latimer. He also drafted the drawings to help Bell get a patent for the telephone.

Lewis Howard Latimer - Wikipedia

 

[Asclepias]

Not one white person invented anything without stealing it from a Black person or using the foundational knowledge taught to europeans by Black people.

Most every inventor uses some sort of "foundational knowledge" learned from someone else. That in no way minimizes the genius of the inventor. It would have been impossible for the hunter/gatherer of thousands of years ago to invent the microprocessor using the resources available in the wilderness. Most all inventions come about because the inventors are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

I agree. Which is my point.

Well, your point seemed to be that white people should not get any credit for inventing anything and that all the credit should go to black people.

Thats correct. What whites have done is the equivalent of putting a racing stripe on a car and even then a Black person or another person of color helped them invent the racing stripe.

You white people hate when your lies are exposed dont you?

 

[JoeMoma]

The UnMuseum - Who Invented the Lightbulb?

An interesting read about the invention of the light bulb. Edison was not the first, but he did invent the first light bulb practical for mass use it seems. Like many of his inventions, he improved on what already existed.

Nope. A Black man made the light bulb practical. Lewis Latimer. He also drafted the drawings to help Bell get a patent for the telephone.

Lewis Howard Latimer - Wikipedia

Apparently, many different people contributed to making the light bulb possible, not any one individual alone.

 

[Asclepias]

The UnMuseum - Who Invented the Lightbulb?

An interesting read about the invention of the light bulb. Edison was not the first, but he did invent the first light bulb practical for mass use it seems. Like many of his inventions, he improved on what already existed.

Nope. A Black man made the light bulb practical. Lewis Latimer. He also drafted the drawings to help Bell get a patent for the telephone.

Lewis Howard Latimer - Wikipedia

Apparently, many different people contributed to making the light bulb possible, not any one individual alone.

Yeah but like I said a Black man using Black foundational science made the light bulb practical. All the others used Black foundational science to get to the point where Latimer perfected it.

 

[JoeMoma]

Most every inventor uses some sort of "foundational knowledge" learned from someone else. That in no way minimizes the genius of the inventor. It would have been impossible for the hunter/gatherer of thousands of years ago to invent the microprocessor using the resources available in the wilderness. Most all inventions come about because the inventors are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

I agree. Which is my point.

Well, your point seemed to be that white people should not get any credit for inventing anything and that all the credit should go to black people.

Thats correct. What whites have done is the equivalent of putting a racing stripe on a car and even then a Black person or another person of color helped them invent the racing stripe.

You white people hate when your lies are exposed dont you?

I don't know. Expose a lie, then I will tell you if I hate that it was exposed or not.

 

[Asclepias]

I agree. Which is my point.

Well, your point seemed to be that white people should not get any credit for inventing anything and that all the credit should go to black people.

Thats correct. What whites have done is the equivalent of putting a racing stripe on a car and even then a Black person or another person of color helped them invent the racing stripe.

You white people hate when your lies are exposed dont you?

I don't know. Expose a lie, then I will tell you if I hate that it was exposed or not.

I just did when you repeated the lie about Thomas Edison.

 

[NewsVine_Mariyam]

One would never know by listening to you guys rant against white people the way you do.

This is why I have stated that you're wrong, which I rarely do. These aren't rants, they're factual dispersements of historical information and they are NOT against white people, they're against a very specific subset of white people, your "white racists". You claim that you have no issue admitting what THEY did (and continue to do) was wrong and immoral (therefore indicative of "weak" human beings) but we keep coming back to you being upset about comments made by Asclepias and at times IM2. Knowing what I do of both of them I sincerely doubt that they're referring to ALL white people as opposed to those who have engaged in acts of racism, however I can not speak for them, only for myself.

Therefore, when I talk about racists or more specifically "white racists" I am talking about the specific subset of the white race as they exist yesterday & today, not anyone or everyone else. When I talk about the evilness and wickness of "white racists" I'm referring to the people who actively participated in the slave trade, or held slaves, or fought to thwart attempts by the slaves to obtain their freedom either legally or illegally. From the beginning of the subjugation of people of African descent to the current acts of violence, aggressions, discrimination etc. committed by "white racists" who STILL believe the bullshit that they were taught that they are superior to black people simply because they are white and willfully cause harm in a myriad of ways to black people - those are the people I am referring to when I support Ascelpias's contention that they were weak. Anyone who employs such tactics is blatently so. Is it your contention that the majority of the white race was not racist at the time they instituted slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, etc.?

You and others seemingly are unable to differentiate between when we're discussing white people in general and white racists specifically, which I guess really shouldn't be surprising since you all consistently make comments about "black people" and then attempt to apply your racist stereotypes to the people you communicate with here on U.S. Message Board on a regular basis. How in the hell does that make any sense? If you don't like being lumped in with your racist members did it ever occur to you that we don't like it any more when simply because we're black you all accuse us of being uneducated, criminals, loose morals, inferior, etc.

I remember vaguely you relating your story about the work situation with one your subordinates spitting on you or something to that affect but I dont' really remember any of the details and the U.S. Message Board search features hasn't worked for me in days so I was unable to backtrack any of the history but I can tell you I have no antagonism against you personally, nor as a member of the white race . I generally give everyone I encounter the benefit of the doubt until they show me otherwise however those that mean me harm and actually cause me harm, particularly those who do so due to any of my protected status attributes are a different story. I was a little on the naive side when I first encountered these people because I was brought up in a family where we were taught that lying is wrong so encountering individuals who not only had no qualms about lying but who would actually fabricate completely false tales out of whole cloth was completely foreign to me. I saw that you said earlier that these conversations are not serving any useful purpose, improving race relations or have anything to do with social justice, etc but that's not entirely correct. I've observed how some members communicate depending on who they're talking to, they can be polite and rational when talking to members of their own race (presumably) and then turn into absolutely foul mouthed, crazed racist when they believe they're talking to black people. That is one of the things I wanted to document.

Of course the goal is better relationships among all people irrespective of their race, ethnic background, etc. but some things are simply not possible when it comes to certain individuals, yet we do what we can.

 

[NewsVine_Mariyam]

Not one white person invented anything without stealing it from a Black person or using the foundational knowledge taught to europeans by Black people.

Most every inventor uses some sort of "foundational knowledge" learned from someone else. That in no way minimizes the genius of the inventor. It would have been impossible for the hunter/gatherer of thousands of years ago to invent the microprocessor using the resources available in the wilderness. Most all inventions come about because the inventors are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

That's very true and most ethical individuals acknowledge the work of the contributors to their success.

Slaves’ inventions exploited by owners
During the 17th and 18th centuries, America was experiencing rapid economic growth. Black inventors were major contributors during this era – even though most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection.

Slave owners often took credit for their slaves’ inventions. In one well-documented case, a black inventor named Ned invented an effective, innovative cotton scraper. His slave master, Oscar Stewart, attempted to patent the invention. Because Stewart was not the actual inventor, and because the actual inventor was born into slavery, the application was rejected.

Stewart ultimately began selling the cotton scraper without the benefit of patent protection and made a significant amount of money doing so. In his advertisements, he openly touted that the product was “the invention of a Negro slave – thus giving the lie to the abolition cry that slavery dwarfs the mind of the Negro. When did a free Negro ever invent anything?”

Reaping benefits of own inventions
The answer to this question is that black people – both free and enslaved – invented many things during that time period.


One such innovator was Henry Boyd, who was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802. After purchasing his own freedom in 1826, Boyd invented a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard.

The “Boyd Bedstead” was so popular that historian Carter G. Woodson profiled his success in the iconic book “The Mis-education of the Negro,” noting that Boyd’s business ultimately employed 25 white and black employees.

Though Boyd had recently purchased his freedom and should have been allowed a patent for his invention, the racist realities of the time apparently led him to believe that he wouldn’t be able to patent his invention. He ultimately decided to partner with a white craftsman, allowing his partner to apply for and receive a patent for the bed.

Some black inventors achieved financial success but no patent protection, direct or indirect. Benjamin Montgomery, who was born into slavery in 1819, invented a steamboat propeller designed for shallow waters in the 1850s. This invention was of particular value because, during that time, steamboats delivered food and other necessities through often-shallow waterways connecting settlements. If the boats got stuck, life-sustaining supplies would be delayed for days or weeks.

Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. The application was rejected due to his status as a slave. Montgomery’s owners tried to take credit for the propeller invention and patent it themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not the true inventors.

Even without patent protection, Montgomery amassed significant wealth and become one of the wealthiest planters in Mississippi after the Civil War ended. Eventually his son, Isaiah, was able to purchase more than 800 acres of land and found the town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi after his father’s death.
America's always had black inventors – even when the patent system explicitly excluded them​

 

[JoeMoma]

Well, your point seemed to be that white people should not get any credit for inventing anything and that all the credit should go to black people.

Thats correct. What whites have done is the equivalent of putting a racing stripe on a car and even then a Black person or another person of color helped them invent the racing stripe.

You white people hate when your lies are exposed dont you?

I don't know. Expose a lie, then I will tell you if I hate that it was exposed or not.

I just did when you repeated the lie about Thomas Edison.

No. While Latimer deserves credit for improving the process of producing the carbon filament,which Edison hired him to do, that does not diminish Edison's contribution. Edison does not diminish Latimer's contribution. You want to give all credit for inventions to black people and none to white people. That is dishonest.

That being said, blacks such as Latimer have made significant contributions; however, to you its the person's skin color that makes the contribution important or not.

 

[JoeMoma]

Not one white person invented anything without stealing it from a Black person or using the foundational knowledge taught to europeans by Black people.

Most every inventor uses some sort of "foundational knowledge" learned from someone else. That in no way minimizes the genius of the inventor. It would have been impossible for the hunter/gatherer of thousands of years ago to invent the microprocessor using the resources available in the wilderness. Most all inventions come about because the inventors are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

That's very true and most ethical individuals acknowledge the work of the contributors to their success.

Slaves’ inventions exploited by owners
During the 17th and 18th centuries, America was experiencing rapid economic growth. Black inventors were major contributors during this era – even though most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection.

Slave owners often took credit for their slaves’ inventions. In one well-documented case, a black inventor named Ned invented an effective, innovative cotton scraper. His slave master, Oscar Stewart, attempted to patent the invention. Because Stewart was not the actual inventor, and because the actual inventor was born into slavery, the application was rejected.

Stewart ultimately began selling the cotton scraper without the benefit of patent protection and made a significant amount of money doing so. In his advertisements, he openly touted that the product was “the invention of a Negro slave – thus giving the lie to the abolition cry that slavery dwarfs the mind of the Negro. When did a free Negro ever invent anything?”

Reaping benefits of own inventions
The answer to this question is that black people – both free and enslaved – invented many things during that time period.


One such innovator was Henry Boyd, who was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802. After purchasing his own freedom in 1826, Boyd invented a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard.

The “Boyd Bedstead” was so popular that historian Carter G. Woodson profiled his success in the iconic book “The Mis-education of the Negro,” noting that Boyd’s business ultimately employed 25 white and black employees.

Though Boyd had recently purchased his freedom and should have been allowed a patent for his invention, the racist realities of the time apparently led him to believe that he wouldn’t be able to patent his invention. He ultimately decided to partner with a white craftsman, allowing his partner to apply for and receive a patent for the bed.

Some black inventors achieved financial success but no patent protection, direct or indirect. Benjamin Montgomery, who was born into slavery in 1819, invented a steamboat propeller designed for shallow waters in the 1850s. This invention was of particular value because, during that time, steamboats delivered food and other necessities through often-shallow waterways connecting settlements. If the boats got stuck, life-sustaining supplies would be delayed for days or weeks.

Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. The application was rejected due to his status as a slave. Montgomery’s owners tried to take credit for the propeller invention and patent it themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not the true inventors.

Even without patent protection, Montgomery amassed significant wealth and become one of the wealthiest planters in Mississippi after the Civil War ended. Eventually his son, Isaiah, was able to purchase more than 800 acres of land and found the town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi after his father’s death.
America's always had black inventors – even when the patent system explicitly excluded them​

I believe that many black people did not receive credit due to them for their inventions. That was wrong. ASCLEPIAS wants to give the credit for every invention ever invented to blacks ( and no credit to whites) which is absurd.

 

[IM2]

Africans respected the boundaries of other Africans before whites carved up Africa. Anything else is a lie told by white historians who wanted to use that as an excuse. They say the same thing about the NAs. What occurred in Egypt was in house. Brothers will fight among themselves in most cases. It wasnt a tribe. It was the Nubian empire that ruled Egypt for a while. This happened on several occasions simply because the Nubians were the first Egyptians.

Alright, if you are going to call anything in the historical record a lie, I guess there's no sense talking to you.
Believe what you will.

Old lady, this historical record of Africa includes colonization by whites which divided nations into borders that did not exist and put warring tribes next to each other, white rulers that used divide and conquer in order to maintain minority rule. Much of the strife in Africa today can be traced to colonization. You guys her are so busy arguing trying top make us racists rather than discussing the points being made. What A is saying is that what is going on now whites created. Most of you guys want to go way back to 100,000 BC in order to argue about issues to rationalize what whites have done until we start bringing up how the past benefitted whites today then for most of you guys here 100 years ago is too far in the past. Stop doing that please.

IM, A is the one who brought up pre-colonial Africa by saying that prior to whites invading Africa, Africans respected each others' boundaries and didn't war with each other.
I already said, in my reply to A, that you folks know more about current conflicts in Africa than I do, what caused them, etc. I was never speaking to current conflicts. I was speaking only to the ridiculous notion that as a race, Africans were peaceful until the bad white guys taught them to be aggressors. Sorry, that's bullshit.

I can see A being somewhat suspicious of white historians' account of what African empires were like pre white guys, but I think it is ludicrous to imagine that blacks are any more likely to be peaceniks, as a race, than any other. He mentioned Native Americans as being peaceable, too. But we know the Mayan and Aztec empires, to name two, didn't become tens of thousands strong by simply smiling at their neighbors. They sacrificed their prisoners of war; no white guy made that up--it is what archeologists have figured out.

All humans have the potential for violence; some cultures learn to control it. I'm not saying some black cultures weren't peaceful, but so were some white cultures. And probably over the course of time, they got gobbled up by aggressive neighbors. That's how history goes.
So, sorry, but I have no plans to "stop" making that point. Though there's no sense, I realize, trying to make any point here.

I'm not going to argue against the fact that we all have human flaws. But what gets sickening is that most whites here always want to make the argument a what about ism in order to divert from the topic. But you have one problem with the argument you are using, find us examples where a non white nation has invaded, colonized, and occupied a white one.

The Carthaginians.

You are talking about 200 BC. This is what I am talking about. If we blacks say every white person benefited from slavery, 150 years ago is too long ago and none of us were here. Carthage isn't even a country and hasn't been for 2000 years.Tunisia is what Carthage is called today and was colonized by the French in the 1800's and did not gain independence until 1956. But since you want play this way, name a non white country in modern times that has colonized a white one. Because Corsica and Sicily are not suffering today because they were colonized by Carthage in 237 BC.

 

[IM2]

Thats correct. What whites have done is the equivalent of putting a racing stripe on a car and even then a Black person or another person of color helped them invent the racing stripe.

You white people hate when your lies are exposed dont you?

I don't know. Expose a lie, then I will tell you if I hate that it was exposed or not.

I just did when you repeated the lie about Thomas Edison.

No. While Latimer deserves credit for improving the process of producing the carbon filament,which Edison hired him to do, that does not diminish Edison's contribution. Edison does not diminish Latimer's contribution. You want to give all credit for inventions to black people and none to white people. That is dishonest.

That being said, blacks such as Latimer have made significant contributions; however, to you its the person's skin color that makes the contribution important or not.

That's the snowball calling the chalk white.

 

[IM2]

Not one white person invented anything without stealing it from a Black person or using the foundational knowledge taught to europeans by Black people.

Most every inventor uses some sort of "foundational knowledge" learned from someone else. That in no way minimizes the genius of the inventor. It would have been impossible for the hunter/gatherer of thousands of years ago to invent the microprocessor using the resources available in the wilderness. Most all inventions come about because the inventors are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

That's very true and most ethical individuals acknowledge the work of the contributors to their success.

Slaves’ inventions exploited by owners
During the 17th and 18th centuries, America was experiencing rapid economic growth. Black inventors were major contributors during this era – even though most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection.

Slave owners often took credit for their slaves’ inventions. In one well-documented case, a black inventor named Ned invented an effective, innovative cotton scraper. His slave master, Oscar Stewart, attempted to patent the invention. Because Stewart was not the actual inventor, and because the actual inventor was born into slavery, the application was rejected.

Stewart ultimately began selling the cotton scraper without the benefit of patent protection and made a significant amount of money doing so. In his advertisements, he openly touted that the product was “the invention of a Negro slave – thus giving the lie to the abolition cry that slavery dwarfs the mind of the Negro. When did a free Negro ever invent anything?”

Reaping benefits of own inventions
The answer to this question is that black people – both free and enslaved – invented many things during that time period.


One such innovator was Henry Boyd, who was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802. After purchasing his own freedom in 1826, Boyd invented a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard.

The “Boyd Bedstead” was so popular that historian Carter G. Woodson profiled his success in the iconic book “The Mis-education of the Negro,” noting that Boyd’s business ultimately employed 25 white and black employees.

Though Boyd had recently purchased his freedom and should have been allowed a patent for his invention, the racist realities of the time apparently led him to believe that he wouldn’t be able to patent his invention. He ultimately decided to partner with a white craftsman, allowing his partner to apply for and receive a patent for the bed.

Some black inventors achieved financial success but no patent protection, direct or indirect. Benjamin Montgomery, who was born into slavery in 1819, invented a steamboat propeller designed for shallow waters in the 1850s. This invention was of particular value because, during that time, steamboats delivered food and other necessities through often-shallow waterways connecting settlements. If the boats got stuck, life-sustaining supplies would be delayed for days or weeks.

Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. The application was rejected due to his status as a slave. Montgomery’s owners tried to take credit for the propeller invention and patent it themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not the true inventors.

Even without patent protection, Montgomery amassed significant wealth and become one of the wealthiest planters in Mississippi after the Civil War ended. Eventually his son, Isaiah, was able to purchase more than 800 acres of land and found the town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi after his father’s death.
America's always had black inventors – even when the patent system explicitly excluded them​

I believe that many black people did not receive credit due to them for their inventions. That was wrong. ASCLEPIAS wants to give the credit for every invention ever invented to blacks ( and no credit to whites) which is absurd.

We have seen that whites have denied black inventors their rightful place for over 200 years. Whites have been given full credit in history for their inventions and those of others. You seem to miss the real absurdity.

 

[IM2]

White people invented everything in my list.

Not without stealing the invention from a Black person or educated in the knowledge Black people provided.

Even if some did, it is not true in every case.

Its true in every case. Not one white person invented anything without stealing it from a Black person or using the foundational knowledge taught to europeans by Black people.

Uh huh.

Thomas Edison stole the invention of the light bulb from a black person dontchaknow!

History shows this to be the case.

 

[IM2]

One would never know by listening to you guys rant against white people the way you do.

This is why I have stated that you're wrong, which I rarely do. These aren't rants, they're factual dispersements of historical information and they are NOT against white people, they're against a very specific subset of white people, your "white racists". You claim that you have no issue admitting what THEY did (and continue to do) was wrong and immoral (therefore indicative of "weak" human beings) but we keep coming back to you being upset about comments made by Asclepias and at times IM2. Knowing what I do of both of them I sincerely doubt that they're referring to ALL white people as opposed to those who have engaged in acts of racism, however I can not speak for them, only for myself.

Therefore, when I talk about racists or more specifically "white racists" I am talking about the specific subset of the white race as they exist yesterday & today, not anyone or everyone else. When I talk about the evilness and wickness of "white racists" I'm referring to the people who actively participated in the slave trade, or held slaves, or fought to thwart attempts by the slaves to obtain their freedom either legally or illegally. From the beginning of the subjugation of people of African descent to the current acts of violence, aggressions, discrimination etc. committed by "white racists" who STILL believe the bullshit that they were taught that they are superior to black people simply because they are white and willfully cause harm in a myriad of ways to black people - those are the people I am referring to when I support Ascelpias's contention that they were weak. Anyone who employs such tactics is blatently so. Is it your contention that the majority of the white race was not racist at the time they instituted slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, etc.?

You and others seemingly are unable to differentiate between when we're discussing white people in general and white racists specifically, which I guess really shouldn't be surprising since you all consistently make comments about "black people" and then attempt to apply your racist stereotypes to the people you communicate with here on U.S. Message Board on a regular basis. How in the hell does that make any sense? If you don't like being lumped in with your racist members did it ever occur to you that we don't like it any more when simply because we're black you all accuse us of being uneducated, criminals, loose morals, inferior, etc.

I remember vaguely you relating your story about the work situation with one your subordinates spitting on you or something to that affect but I dont' really remember any of the details and the U.S. Message Board search features hasn't worked for me in days so I was unable to backtrack any of the history but I can tell you I have no antagonism against you personally, nor as a member of the white race . I generally give everyone I encounter the benefit of the doubt until they show me otherwise however those that mean me harm and actually cause me harm, particularly those who do so due to any of my protected status attributes are a different story. I was a little on the naive side when I first encountered these people because I was brought up in a family where we were taught that lying is wrong so encountering individuals who not only had no qualms about lying but who would actually fabricate completely false tales out of whole cloth was completely foreign to me. I saw that you said earlier that these conversations are not serving any useful purpose, improving race relations or have anything to do with social justice, etc but that's not entirely correct. I've observed how some members communicate depending on who they're talking to, they can be polite and rational when talking to members of their own race (presumably) and then turn into absolutely foul mouthed, crazed racist when they believe they're talking to black people. That is one of the things I wanted to document.

Of course the goal is better relationships among all people irrespective of their race, ethnic background, etc. but some things are simply not possible when it comes to certain individuals, yet we do what we can.

I'll say this again. I have stated that my opposition is against whites who are racists. I have stated on numerous occasions that not all whites are racist. It doesn't get any clearer than that and anyone whining about me talking about all whites is a liar. Period.

 

[JoeMoma]

Not one white person invented anything without stealing it from a Black person or using the foundational knowledge taught to europeans by Black people.

Most every inventor uses some sort of "foundational knowledge" learned from someone else. That in no way minimizes the genius of the inventor. It would have been impossible for the hunter/gatherer of thousands of years ago to invent the microprocessor using the resources available in the wilderness. Most all inventions come about because the inventors are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

That's very true and most ethical individuals acknowledge the work of the contributors to their success.

Slaves’ inventions exploited by owners
During the 17th and 18th centuries, America was experiencing rapid economic growth. Black inventors were major contributors during this era – even though most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection.

Slave owners often took credit for their slaves’ inventions. In one well-documented case, a black inventor named Ned invented an effective, innovative cotton scraper. His slave master, Oscar Stewart, attempted to patent the invention. Because Stewart was not the actual inventor, and because the actual inventor was born into slavery, the application was rejected.

Stewart ultimately began selling the cotton scraper without the benefit of patent protection and made a significant amount of money doing so. In his advertisements, he openly touted that the product was “the invention of a Negro slave – thus giving the lie to the abolition cry that slavery dwarfs the mind of the Negro. When did a free Negro ever invent anything?”

Reaping benefits of own inventions
The answer to this question is that black people – both free and enslaved – invented many things during that time period.


One such innovator was Henry Boyd, who was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802. After purchasing his own freedom in 1826, Boyd invented a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard.

The “Boyd Bedstead” was so popular that historian Carter G. Woodson profiled his success in the iconic book “The Mis-education of the Negro,” noting that Boyd’s business ultimately employed 25 white and black employees.

Though Boyd had recently purchased his freedom and should have been allowed a patent for his invention, the racist realities of the time apparently led him to believe that he wouldn’t be able to patent his invention. He ultimately decided to partner with a white craftsman, allowing his partner to apply for and receive a patent for the bed.

Some black inventors achieved financial success but no patent protection, direct or indirect. Benjamin Montgomery, who was born into slavery in 1819, invented a steamboat propeller designed for shallow waters in the 1850s. This invention was of particular value because, during that time, steamboats delivered food and other necessities through often-shallow waterways connecting settlements. If the boats got stuck, life-sustaining supplies would be delayed for days or weeks.

Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. The application was rejected due to his status as a slave. Montgomery’s owners tried to take credit for the propeller invention and patent it themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not the true inventors.

Even without patent protection, Montgomery amassed significant wealth and become one of the wealthiest planters in Mississippi after the Civil War ended. Eventually his son, Isaiah, was able to purchase more than 800 acres of land and found the town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi after his father’s death.
America's always had black inventors – even when the patent system explicitly excluded them​

I believe that many black people did not receive credit due to them for their inventions. That was wrong. ASCLEPIAS wants to give the credit for every invention ever invented to blacks ( and no credit to whites) which is absurd.

We have seen that whites have denied black inventors their rightful place for over 200 years. Whites have been given full credit in history for their inventions and those of others. You seem to miss the real absurdity.

You and ASCLEPIAS will not be satisfied unless the tables are completely turned. You are not wanting an end to racism, you are wanting payback. You are FOS.

 

[ptbw forever]

Alright, if you are going to call anything in the historical record a lie, I guess there's no sense talking to you.
Believe what you will.

Old lady, this historical record of Africa includes colonization by whites which divided nations into borders that did not exist and put warring tribes next to each other, white rulers that used divide and conquer in order to maintain minority rule. Much of the strife in Africa today can be traced to colonization. You guys her are so busy arguing trying top make us racists rather than discussing the points being made. What A is saying is that what is going on now whites created. Most of you guys want to go way back to 100,000 BC in order to argue about issues to rationalize what whites have done until we start bringing up how the past benefitted whites today then for most of you guys here 100 years ago is too far in the past. Stop doing that please.

IM, A is the one who brought up pre-colonial Africa by saying that prior to whites invading Africa, Africans respected each others' boundaries and didn't war with each other.
I already said, in my reply to A, that you folks know more about current conflicts in Africa than I do, what caused them, etc. I was never speaking to current conflicts. I was speaking only to the ridiculous notion that as a race, Africans were peaceful until the bad white guys taught them to be aggressors. Sorry, that's bullshit.

I can see A being somewhat suspicious of white historians' account of what African empires were like pre white guys, but I think it is ludicrous to imagine that blacks are any more likely to be peaceniks, as a race, than any other. He mentioned Native Americans as being peaceable, too. But we know the Mayan and Aztec empires, to name two, didn't become tens of thousands strong by simply smiling at their neighbors. They sacrificed their prisoners of war; no white guy made that up--it is what archeologists have figured out.

All humans have the potential for violence; some cultures learn to control it. I'm not saying some black cultures weren't peaceful, but so were some white cultures. And probably over the course of time, they got gobbled up by aggressive neighbors. That's how history goes.
So, sorry, but I have no plans to "stop" making that point. Though there's no sense, I realize, trying to make any point here.

I'm not going to argue against the fact that we all have human flaws. But what gets sickening is that most whites here always want to make the argument a what about ism in order to divert from the topic. But you have one problem with the argument you are using, find us examples where a non white nation has invaded, colonized, and occupied a white one.

The Carthaginians.

You are talking about 200 BC. This is what I am talking about. If we blacks say every white person benefited from slavery, 150 years ago is too long ago and none of us were here. Carthage isn't even a country and hasn't been for 2000 years.Tunisia is what Carthage is called today and was colonized by the French in the 1800's and did not gain independence until 1956. But since you want play this way, name a non white country in modern times that has colonized a white one. Because Corsica and Sicily are not suffering today because they were colonized by Carthage in 237 BC.

All of Europe is being colonized right now, idiot.

 

[ptbw forever]

Not one white person invented anything without stealing it from a Black person or using the foundational knowledge taught to europeans by Black people.

Most every inventor uses some sort of "foundational knowledge" learned from someone else. That in no way minimizes the genius of the inventor. It would have been impossible for the hunter/gatherer of thousands of years ago to invent the microprocessor using the resources available in the wilderness. Most all inventions come about because the inventors are able to stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before them.

That's very true and most ethical individuals acknowledge the work of the contributors to their success.

Slaves’ inventions exploited by owners
During the 17th and 18th centuries, America was experiencing rapid economic growth. Black inventors were major contributors during this era – even though most did not obtain any of the benefits associated with their inventions since they could not receive patent protection.

Slave owners often took credit for their slaves’ inventions. In one well-documented case, a black inventor named Ned invented an effective, innovative cotton scraper. His slave master, Oscar Stewart, attempted to patent the invention. Because Stewart was not the actual inventor, and because the actual inventor was born into slavery, the application was rejected.

Stewart ultimately began selling the cotton scraper without the benefit of patent protection and made a significant amount of money doing so. In his advertisements, he openly touted that the product was “the invention of a Negro slave – thus giving the lie to the abolition cry that slavery dwarfs the mind of the Negro. When did a free Negro ever invent anything?”

Reaping benefits of own inventions
The answer to this question is that black people – both free and enslaved – invented many things during that time period.


One such innovator was Henry Boyd, who was born into slavery in Kentucky in 1802. After purchasing his own freedom in 1826, Boyd invented a corded bed created with wooden rails connected to the headboard and footboard.

The “Boyd Bedstead” was so popular that historian Carter G. Woodson profiled his success in the iconic book “The Mis-education of the Negro,” noting that Boyd’s business ultimately employed 25 white and black employees.

Though Boyd had recently purchased his freedom and should have been allowed a patent for his invention, the racist realities of the time apparently led him to believe that he wouldn’t be able to patent his invention. He ultimately decided to partner with a white craftsman, allowing his partner to apply for and receive a patent for the bed.

Some black inventors achieved financial success but no patent protection, direct or indirect. Benjamin Montgomery, who was born into slavery in 1819, invented a steamboat propeller designed for shallow waters in the 1850s. This invention was of particular value because, during that time, steamboats delivered food and other necessities through often-shallow waterways connecting settlements. If the boats got stuck, life-sustaining supplies would be delayed for days or weeks.

Montgomery tried to apply for a patent. The application was rejected due to his status as a slave. Montgomery’s owners tried to take credit for the propeller invention and patent it themselves, but the patent office also rejected their application because they were not the true inventors.

Even without patent protection, Montgomery amassed significant wealth and become one of the wealthiest planters in Mississippi after the Civil War ended. Eventually his son, Isaiah, was able to purchase more than 800 acres of land and found the town of Mound Bayou, Mississippi after his father’s death.
America's always had black inventors – even when the patent system explicitly excluded them​

I believe that many black people did not receive credit due to them for their inventions. That was wrong. ASCLEPIAS wants to give the credit for every invention ever invented to blacks ( and no credit to whites) which is absurd.

We have seen that whites have denied black inventors their rightful place for over 200 years. Whites have been given full credit in history for their inventions and those of others. You seem to miss the real absurdity.

You and ASCLEPIAS will not be satisfied unless the tables are completely turned. You are not wanting an end to racism, you are wanting payback. You are FOS.

The tables won't be turned(they already have), they will simply own the entire table. THAT is what they want.

They want white people old, weak, few and infertile until we are eventually no more. That is "equality" to them.

 

[ptbw forever]

One would never know by listening to you guys rant against white people the way you do.

This is why I have stated that you're wrong, which I rarely do. These aren't rants, they're factual dispersements of historical information and they are NOT against white people, they're against a very specific subset of white people, your "white racists". You claim that you have no issue admitting what THEY did (and continue to do) was wrong and immoral (therefore indicative of "weak" human beings) but we keep coming back to you being upset about comments made by Asclepias and at times IM2. Knowing what I do of both of them I sincerely doubt that they're referring to ALL white people as opposed to those who have engaged in acts of racism, however I can not speak for them, only for myself.

Therefore, when I talk about racists or more specifically "white racists" I am talking about the specific subset of the white race as they exist yesterday & today, not anyone or everyone else. When I talk about the evilness and wickness of "white racists" I'm referring to the people who actively participated in the slave trade, or held slaves, or fought to thwart attempts by the slaves to obtain their freedom either legally or illegally. From the beginning of the subjugation of people of African descent to the current acts of violence, aggressions, discrimination etc. committed by "white racists" who STILL believe the bullshit that they were taught that they are superior to black people simply because they are white and willfully cause harm in a myriad of ways to black people - those are the people I am referring to when I support Ascelpias's contention that they were weak. Anyone who employs such tactics is blatently so. Is it your contention that the majority of the white race was not racist at the time they instituted slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, etc.?

You and others seemingly are unable to differentiate between when we're discussing white people in general and white racists specifically, which I guess really shouldn't be surprising since you all consistently make comments about "black people" and then attempt to apply your racist stereotypes to the people you communicate with here on U.S. Message Board on a regular basis. How in the hell does that make any sense? If you don't like being lumped in with your racist members did it ever occur to you that we don't like it any more when simply because we're black you all accuse us of being uneducated, criminals, loose morals, inferior, etc.

I remember vaguely you relating your story about the work situation with one your subordinates spitting on you or something to that affect but I dont' really remember any of the details and the U.S. Message Board search features hasn't worked for me in days so I was unable to backtrack any of the history but I can tell you I have no antagonism against you personally, nor as a member of the white race . I generally give everyone I encounter the benefit of the doubt until they show me otherwise however those that mean me harm and actually cause me harm, particularly those who do so due to any of my protected status attributes are a different story. I was a little on the naive side when I first encountered these people because I was brought up in a family where we were taught that lying is wrong so encountering individuals who not only had no qualms about lying but who would actually fabricate completely false tales out of whole cloth was completely foreign to me. I saw that you said earlier that these conversations are not serving any useful purpose, improving race relations or have anything to do with social justice, etc but that's not entirely correct. I've observed how some members communicate depending on who they're talking to, they can be polite and rational when talking to members of their own race (presumably) and then turn into absolutely foul mouthed, crazed racist when they believe they're talking to black people. That is one of the things I wanted to document.

Of course the goal is better relationships among all people irrespective of their race, ethnic background, etc. but some things are simply not possible when it comes to certain individuals, yet we do what we can.

Hilarious how you can't see that being a "protected" class disqualifies you from being able to talk about racism being detrimental to your life. Being protected means you are preferred by the government.

Being of the unprotected class white people are just supposed to take all of the racism we receive from assholes like Asclepias and when the demographics no longer provide us some cover we simply become oppressed in ways you couldn't even fathom as a protected class.

 

[NewsVine_Mariyam]

Hilarious how you can't see that being a "protected" class disqualifies you from being able to talk about racism being detrimental to your life. Being protected means you are preferred by the government.

Being of the unprotected class white people are just supposed to take all of the racism we receive from assholes like Asclepias and when the demographics no longer provide us some cover we simply become oppressed in ways you couldn't even fathom as a protected class.

Your response makes it painfully obvious that "protected class status" doesn't mean what you apparently think it does, it certainly doesn't mean "preferred by the government".

Before discrimination was made unlawful via Executive Order 11246 there was no private cause of action for racial discrimination meaning there was no law which if violated would allow the offender to be sued for the harm his/her behavior caused. And even though the verbage of the various civil rights laws use language such as "protection", these laws do nothing to prevent people from violating them or to "protect" the victims, meaning that unlawful discrimination continues to this day in violation of the various statutes. The only "protection" the laws provide is legal recourse which members of the designated protected classes previously did not have.

You might be interested to know that white women have been the largest beneficiaries of our civil rights laws since they are protected class members as well

[snipped]
But affirmative action has been quite beneficial to women, and disproportionately beneficial to white women. Women are now more likely to graduate with bachelor’s degrees and attend graduate school than men are and outnumber men on many college campuses. In 1970, just 7.6 percent of physicians in America were women; in 2002, that number had risen to 25.2 percent. But — and this is a big but — those benefits are more likely to accrue to white women than they are to women of color, and that imbalance has very real effects on employment and earnings later in life. In other words: affirmative action works, and it works way better for white women than it does for all the other women in America.

But white women have made a practice of publicly objecting to affirmative action policies. As researcher Jessie McDaniel notes, since the landmark 1978 Supreme Court case Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, in which the court ruled that race may be factored into university admissions, “the people suing universities for discrimination in the academic admissions process have been white women: Abigail Fisher; Barbara Grutter (Grutter v. Bollinger); Jennifer Gratz (Gratz v. Bollinger) and Cheryl Hopwood (Hopwood v. Texas).” Those landmark cases challenged university affirmative action programs in Michigan and Texas, respectively.

And those women are far from alone in believing that a system that’s designed to help them and has helped lots of women like them has actually robbed them of something that’s rightfully theirs — and should be dismantled as a consequence. In fact, they’re more likely than white men in their age group to object.
Affirmative Action Is Great For White Women. So Why Do They Hate It? | HuffPost​