It’s Friday morning, so take a few minutes and Take 5 with GPS. This morning GPS shares an inspirational figure to so many in the U.S. and beyond, American politician, educator, and author, Shirley Chisholm. Our musical pairing is “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” by Smokey Robinson and Robert Rogers as made… Read More →
Join us for another Thursday-edition of Take 5, as GPS highlights education activist Marva Collins and shares a song passed down by oral tradition in the Black community, “Somebody’s Hurting My Brother.” Learn More https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/marva-collins-40 http://nytimes.com/2015/06/29/us/marva-collins-78-no-nonsense-educator-and-activist-dies.html https://tpt.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/7199de5c-446e-4db6-b949-d3a0d22dadcc/george-franklin-husband-of-marva-n-collins/ Sponsor Black Excellence Each episode and blog post take $250 to create and produce. Consider sponsoring a day… Read More →
It’s a Wednesday kids day on Take 5; join GPS as he sings a little Angel Medley and shares a little about the 1st African American woman to participate in the NASA space program, Mae Jemison. Learn More “Mae Among the Stars” by Roda Ahmed, Stasia Burrington (Illustrator) http://teacher.scholastic.com/space/mae_jemison/index.htm https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/mae-jemison https://www.biography.com/astronaut/mae-c-jemison https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/jemison_mae.pdf Sponsor Black Excellence Each… Read More →
Today, we highlight Janet Emerson Bashen, founder and CEO of the Bashen Corporation, a private consulting group that investigates Equal Employment Opportunity complaints under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the first African American woman in the United States to hold a software patent. Our musical inspiration is “Reach Out and Touch” by Nickolas Ashford and… Read More →
Today, we highlight physicist, researcher, and University president, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson. Our musical inspiration is a call to supporting each other, “I’ll Be There” as made popular by the Jackson 5, Mariah Carey, and other artists. Learn More https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/about/meet-our-guests/shirley-jackson https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/shirley-ann-jackson/ https://www.aps.org/careers/physicists/profiles/sjackson.cfm Sponsor Black Excellence Each episode and blog post take $250 to create and… Read More →
On this final day of February, GPS continues to highlight Black excellence by introducing us to the work of Elijah McCoy, an inventor and engineer who has over 57 patents to his name that touch on many facets of our everyday lives. Our musical inspiration is in the form of Duke Ellington’s legendary ballad, “Come… Read More →
On this Saturday edition of Take 5, we highlight the extraordinary contributions George Edward Alcorn, Jr. has made to science and technology through his work with NASA and beyond. A physicist, engineer, inventor and distinguished professor, Alcorn Jr. has revolutionized the semiconductor industry. We go back to Motown and the music of The Four Tops… Read More →
On this episode we celebrate Sarah Elisabeth Goode, inventor of the “hide-away bed.” Our musical pairing is “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” traditional spiritual arranged by Harry T. Burleigh. Sarah Elisabeth Goode (1855-1905) Notable Achievements: One of the first African American women to be awarded a patent in 1885. Learn More https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/goode-sarah-e-c-1855-1905/ https://www.biography.com/inventor/sarah-e-goode Sponsor Thank You… Read More →
On this episode we celebrate Miriam E. Benjamin, an American school teacher and inventor who invented the “Gong and Signal Chair” for hotels, adopted by the United States House of Representatives and a pre-cursor to the flight attendant signaling system on modern airplanes. Our musical pairing is “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” by… Read More →
On this episode we celebrate Alfred L. Cralle, an African American businessman and inventor who was best known for inventing the ice cream scoop in 1897. Our musical pairing is “Do Lord,” a traditional Negro spiritual. Alfred L. Cralle (1866-1919) Notable Achievements: He did not become famous for his invention of his ice cream scoop.… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Horatio Parker. Horatio Parker 1863-1919 Horatio William Parker received his earliest musical training from his mother who instructed him in piano, organ, and music theory. He went on to study composer George Chadwick, with whom… Read More →
On this episode we explore the contributions of inventor of central heating using natural gas, Alice H. Parker. Our musical pairing is “Heatwave” by Brian & Edward Holland, Lamont Dozier, made popular by Martha and the Vandellas. Alice H. Parker (1895-1920) Notable Achievements:Very little is known about Alice Parker’s life. She attended classes at… Read More →
In this Musical Moment, VocalEssence artistic director and founder Philip Brunelle shares insider information and beautiful music by the composer Igor Stravinsky. Igor Stravinsky 1882-1971 Igor Stravinsky was a Russian-born composer whose work had a revolutionary impact on music before and after World War I and whose compositions are examples of modernism within the music… Read More →
On this Monday episode we explore the contributions of Dr. Patricia Bath, Ophthalmologist, Inventor, Humanitarian, and educator, who invented the laser cataract surgery called the Lazerphaco Probe. Our musical pairing is “I’ll Be Seeing You,” by Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal. Dr. Patricia Bath (1942-2019) Notable Achievements: Dr. Patricia Bath discovered and invented a new… Read More →
On this Sunday edition of Take 5, GPS continues our exploration of Black Excellence by highlighting the contributions of well-known figures. George Washington Carver is regarded is the most influential African American scientist of the early 20th century, with well over 100 inventions credited to his work. Gospel music icon, Rev. James Cleveland, inspires and… Read More →
