If you’ve ever felt "sick and tired of being sick and tired," you are echoing the most famous words of Fannie Lou Hamer. But for Hamer, those weren't just a catchy slogan—they were a battle cry born from decades of backbreaking labor, state-sanctioned violence, and an unyielding faith in democracy.
Born in 1917 as the 20th child of sharecroppers in the Mississippi Delta, Hamer spent much of her life picking cotton and working as a plantation timekeeper. It wasn't until 1962, at the age of 44, that she attended a meeting led by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and discovered she had a constitutional right to vote.
She walked into that meeting a sharecropper; she walked out a revolutionary.
The Cost of a Vote
Hamer’s journey to the ballot box was paved with immediate and brutal retaliation. When she first attempted to register to vote in Indianola, Mississippi:
She was fired: Her plantation owner told her to withdraw her application or leave. She left that night.
She was targeted: Days later, white supremacists fired 16 shots into the home where she was staying.
She was brutalized: In 1963, she was arrested in Winona, Mississippi, for sitting in a "whites-only" bus station cafe. In jail, she was savagely beaten by two Black inmates who were forced to do so by white police officers. The assault left her with permanent kidney damage and a blood clot in her eye.
"Is This America?"
Hamer refused to be silenced. In 1964, she co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) to challenge the all-white, anti-integration state delegation at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Atlantic City.
Her televised testimony before the Credentials Committee was so powerful that President Lyndon B. Johnson called an "emergency" press conference just to knock her off the air. It didn't work. The networks replayed her speech in full later that evening, bringing her question to the living rooms of millions:
"Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, where we have to sleep with our telephones off of the hooks because our lives be threatened daily, because we want to live as decent human beings, in America?"
Beyond the Ballot: Freedom Farms
Hamer knew that political rights were hollow without economic power. In 1969, she launched the Freedom Farm Cooperative, a community land trust that provided food and housing for displaced sharecroppers. She believed that if a person had their own land and their own pigs, "the white man" couldn't use hunger as a tool of political control.
Why Her Legacy Matters Today
Fannie Lou Hamer wasn't a polished politician or a career activist from an Ivy League school. she was a "local person" who spoke the language of the people she served. She proved that you don't need a title to challenge a president—you just need the truth and the courage to "fall five feet four inches forward" if you're ever knocked down.
In 2025, Hamer was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a final, formal recognition of a woman who spent her life fighting for a country that often fought her back.
In this video, Kathleen Cleaver, a prominent leader in the Black Panther Party, delivers a compelling critique of non-violence in a society she argues is fundamentally rooted in organized force. She highlights that from its inception, the United States has used violence as a tool for expansion, control, and maintenance of the status quo—both domestically and abroad. Cleaver emphasizes the strategic shift from being "unarmed" to being "organized and armed" as the true definition of power for oppressed communities.
The conversation around civil rights often centers on the dichotomy between non-violence and militant resistance. In a re-ssurfaced clip, Kathleen Cleaver—lawyer, professor, and the first woman to join the Black Panther Party’s decision-making body—challenges the "functionality" of non-violence in a system built on its opposite.
A Foundation of Force
Cleaver’s argument is grounded in a historical reality: the creation and maintenance of the American state. She points out that:
Land acquisition was achieved through violence.
Social order in marginalized communities (the "ghettos") is maintained through force.
Foreign policy, specifically citing Vietnam and Africa, relies on organized military power.
By framing violence not as a choice, but as the underlying "language" of the society, Cleaver suggests that non-violence is an ineffective response to an inherently aggressive system.
Power Through Organization
The climax of her statement distinguishes between a large, vulnerable population and an organized, prepared one. "There’s a world of difference between 20 million unarmed people and 20 million people organized and armed to the gills," she states. For the Black Panther Party, this wasn't just about weaponry; it was about self-defense, political education, and communal sovereignty.
Further Reading & Sources
"Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party" by Joshua Bloom and Waldo E. Martin Jr.
"Memories of Love and War" – Kathleen Cleaver’s own accounts and essays on her time in the movement.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) – Digital archives on the Black Panther Party’s Ten-Point Program.
In 1897, the British Empire launched a "Punitive Expedition" against the Kingdom of Benin (located in modern-day Edo State, Nigeria). While history books often framed this as a mission of justice, a closer look at the archives reveals a calculated campaign of invasion, looting, and systemic character assassination.
The Historical Context: Trade and Tension
By the late 19th century, the British were eager to expand their "Protectorate" over the Niger Coast to monopolize trade in palm oil, rubber, and ivory. However, Oba Ovonramwen of Benin maintained strict control over his kingdom’s resources and refused to sign away Benin's sovereignty.
The catalyst for the invasion was the Phillips Incident. In January 1897, Acting Consul-General James Phillips led a "peaceful" mission to Benin City despite being warned that the Kingdom was celebrating a sacred festival during which visitors were forbidden. Phillips’ party was ambushed, and most members were killed.
The Summary: Invasion and Looting
The British response was swift and overwhelming:
The Attack: Within weeks, 1,200 British troops invaded. They used Maxim guns and rockets against a kingdom largely defending itself with muskets and spears.
The Destruction: British forces burned Benin City to the ground, including the Royal Palace. The Oba was forced into exile in Calabar.
The Theft: In what is now considered one of the greatest art heists in history, the British seized thousands of brass plaques and ivory carvings—collectively known as the Benin Bronzes. These were sold to the British Museum and various European collectors to "offset the costs" of the war.
The Propaganda: Building the "Savage" Narrative
To justify the slaughter and the theft of state treasures, the British government and media launched a PR campaign designed to paint Benin as a "City of Blood."
The Lie of Humanitarianism: Official reports focused almost exclusively on human sacrifice and "barbarism." By framing the Oba as a bloodthirsty tyrant, the British transformed an illegal resource grab into a "civilizing mission."
The Erasure of Sophistication: At the time, Europeans were shocked by the quality of the Benin Bronzes. Rather than admit African artists were capable of such mastery, many British "experts" claimed the works must have been influenced by the Portuguese or even the lost city of Atlantis.
The "Punitive" Label: Using the word punitive framed the British as the victims of the Phillips Incident, conveniently ignoring that Phillips was an armed intruder entering a sovereign nation against explicit orders.
Key Source
"The Benin Kingdom and the British Invasion" – Paddy Walker (great-grandson of a British officer involved in the raid) and modern scholarly archives from the Digital Benin project, which documents the 5,000+ artifacts scattered across 131 institutions worldwide.
Why It Matters Today
The "lies and propaganda" of 1897 are at the heart of the modern debate over restitution. When museums refuse to return the Bronzes, they often lean on the echoes of that 19th-century propaganda—the idea that the original owners were "uncivilized" and that the artifacts are "safer" in the West.
In 1897, British forces invaded Benin City in today’s Nigeria 🇳🇬. What followed was a series of lies and propaganda. pic.twitter.com/bDxHxLHFta
Every time you make a call, send a text, or stream a video on your smartphone, you're tapping into a legacy of innovation – a legacy profoundly shaped by Black brilliance. At the heart of this revolution is Jesse Russell, a trailblazing inventor whose groundbreaking work at AT&T Bell Labs in the 1980s and 1990s laid much of the foundation for the mobile world we inhabit today.
Russell’s journey into the world of telecommunications began with a strong educational background. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Tennessee State University in 1972, and later his Master of Engineering degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1973. This solid academic foundation prepared him for a career that would transform how we communicate.
Joining AT&T Bell Labs, Russell quickly became a pivotal figure in the burgeoning field of cellular technology. One of his most significant contributions was his instrumental role in developing the first digital cellular base station. This was a monumental leap from the analog systems of the past, paving the way for clearer calls, more efficient use of airwaves, and ultimately, the digital mobile experience we take for granted.
But Russell's impact didn't stop there. He is also widely credited with developing some of the earliest mobile data telephone systems. Imagine a time when mobile phones were primarily for voice calls. Russell's vision helped bridge the gap, enabling the transmission of data over cellular networks – a crucial step towards the smartphones that are now extensions of ourselves.
While often not a household name, Russell holds several patents that underscore his innovative spirit. For example, he holds a patent related to "Base station for time division multiple access (TDMA) cellular radio telecommunication systems," which highlights his foundational work in digital cellular communication. You can explore more about his patented work through resources like the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Jesse Russell's story is a powerful reminder that innovation comes from all corners, and that the contributions of Black inventors have been, and continue to be, indispensable to technological progress. His dedication and brilliance at AT&T Bell Labs didn't just advance cellular technology; they fundamentally reshaped our modern world, connecting billions of people across the globe.
So, the next time you pick up your mobile phone, remember Jesse Russell. Every call, text, and mobile connection carries the legacy of Black brilliance, a testament to the ingenuity and foresight of an inventor who truly changed the world.
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO):https://www.uspto.gov/ (You can search for inventor "Jesse Russell" to find his patents, such as U.S. Patent 5,084,869 for "Base station for time division multiple access (TDMA) cellular radio telecommunication systems").
Jesse Russell is a trailblazing Black inventor whose groundbreaking work at AT&T Bell Labs in the 1980s and 1990s shaped the modern world. He played a key role in advancing cellular technology, contributing to the first digital cellular base station and mobile data telephone… pic.twitter.com/WvQQsrvC5G
Was California a slave state? Officially, no. But did significant harm and systemic racism occur within its borders, justifying lineage-based reparations? The data says yes.While California entered as a free union state in 1850, its early years were marked by discriminatory laws. The 1852 Fugitive Slave Act, for example, enabled the enslavement of Black individuals and denied refuge to those seeking freedom, leaving a legacy of inequality. (Source: "Root of the Problem: How anti-Black racism and California law forged slavery" by Kyle T. Mays, UC Berkeley Press)
Data shows significant disparities. In 1860, Black homeownership rates were 25% lower than those of white residents. (Source: "Final Report" - California Reparations Task Force, 2023).
The lasting legacy of lineage-based reparations involves addressing historical harms and modern impacts, building a foundation for fairness.
To learn more and support lineage-based reparations, visit CJEC.
In the annals of video game history, names like Nolan Bushnell, Ralph Baer, and Shigeru Miyamoto are celebrated for their groundbreaking contributions. Yet, one name often overlooked, despite his monumental impact, is Jerry Lawson. This brilliant Black engineer revolutionized the nascent video game industry by inventing the first cartridge-based home video game console, laying the foundation for every console that followed.
From Queens to Silicon Valley: Lawson's Early Life and Education
Gerald "Jerry" Anderson Lawson was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 1, 1940, and spent his early years in Queens. His fascination with electronics began at a young age. Lawson's father was a longshoreman with an interest in electronics, and his mother worked for the city but was also a keen student of math and science, and served on the PTA at Jerry's school. They encouraged his curiosity, providing him with radio parts and encouraging him to experiment. He would often repair TVs for neighbors, showcasing his innate talent for tinkering.
Lawson attended Queens College and City College of New York, though he did not complete a degree. This was a time when opportunities for Black individuals in higher education and technical fields were severely limited. However, his self-taught knowledge and practical experience proved invaluable. He later moved to California, a burgeoning hub of technological innovation, which would eventually become Silicon Valley.
The Invention That Changed Everything: The Fairchild Channel F
Lawson's career took a significant turn when he joined Fairchild Semiconductor in 1970. Fairchild was a pioneering company in the semiconductor industry, and it was here that Lawson's genius truly blossomed.
At the time, home video game consoles like the Magnavox Odyssey had games hardwired into the system. This meant that once you bought a console, you were stuck with the games it came with. If you wanted new games, you had to buy a whole new console. This was a significant limitation to the industry's growth.
Lawson, leading a team at Fairchild, began to envision a different future. His inspiration came from a variety of sources, including coin-operated arcade games where new titles could be swapped out. He also saw the potential of early programmable microprocessors. The crucial problem to solve was how to allow users to easily switch between different games without needing to purchase an entirely new machine.
The answer was the game cartridge. Lawson's team developed a system that used removable ROM (Read-Only Memory) cartridges, each containing a different game. These cartridges could be plugged into a slot on the console, effectively loading a new game. This was a radical departure from the existing model.
In November 1976, Fairchild released the Fairchild Channel F (originally known as Video Entertainment System or VES). It was the first programmable, cartridge-based video game console.
This innovation was a game-changer. It transformed the video game industry from a niche market of dedicated consoles into a dynamic, expandable entertainment platform. Suddenly, consumers could purchase a single console and then continually expand their game library. This model became the standard for every major video game console that followed, from the Atari 2600 (which directly benefited from Lawson's pioneering work, releasing a year after the Channel F) to Nintendo, Sega, PlayStation, and Xbox.
The Impact and Legacy
Lawson's invention democratized gaming and created a whole new ecosystem for game development and distribution. It fostered innovation, allowing developers to create and sell individual game titles, rather than being limited to the handful of games built into a console. Without the cartridge system, the vast libraries of games we enjoy today simply wouldn't exist in the same way.
Despite his monumental contributions, Lawson's story remained largely unsung for many years. He left Fairchild in 1980 to found Video Soft, one of the first Black-owned video game development companies, though it eventually closed.
Does He Still Get Paid?
Unfortunately, Jerry Lawson did not directly benefit financially from the long-term success of the cartridge-based gaming industry in the way that many modern inventors do through royalties or ongoing intellectual property payments. As an employee of Fairchild Semiconductor, his invention was owned by the company. While he received a salary and recognition within the company at the time, the vast fortunes generated by later console manufacturers like Atari, Nintendo, and Sony did not directly flow to him.
This is a common narrative for many groundbreaking inventors who developed their innovations as employees of larger corporations. They contribute significantly to technological advancement but don't always reap the enormous financial rewards their inventions enable for subsequent industries.
A Look at the Fairchild Channel F in Action
To truly appreciate Lawson's impact, it's fascinating to see his creation in action. While finding footage of the very first cartridges can be challenging, here's a video demonstrating the Fairchild Channel F and its unique removable cartridges:
[Embed YouTube Video: Search for "Fairchild Channel F gameplay" or "Jerry Lawson Fairchild Channel F"]
One common game on the Channel F was "Video Cartridge No. 1: Tic-Tac-Toe / Shooting Gallery." The games were simple by today's standards, but the ability to swap them out was revolutionary.
The Evolution His Work Fed
Jerry Lawson's invention truly kickstarted the modern console gaming era. Here's a simplified graphic illustrating how his work laid the groundwork for future generations of gaming consoles:
Lawson's Cartridge-Based System (1976 - Fairchild Channel F)
Key Innovation: First console with interchangeable ROM cartridges.
⬇️
Second Generation Consoles (Late 1970s - Early 1980s - e.g., Atari 2600, Intellivision)
Evolution: Adopted and popularized the cartridge model, leading to massive market growth and the first "video game boom."
⬇️
Third Generation Consoles (Mid-1980s - e.g., Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Sega Master System)
Evolution: Refined cartridge technology, leading to more complex games, better graphics, and the resurgence of the industry after the 1983 crash.
⬇️
Fourth Generation Consoles (Late 1980s - Early 1990s - e.g., Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Sega Genesis)
Evolution: Continued to use cartridges, pushing the boundaries of 16-bit graphics and sound.
⬇️
Fifth Generation Consoles (Mid-1990s - e.g., PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn)
Evolution: While some (N64) stuck with cartridges, the industry began a major shift towards CD-ROMs for greater storage capacity, though the concept of interchangeable media for different games remained.
⬇️
Modern Consoles (2000s - Present - e.g., PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)
Evolution: Transitioned to DVDs, Blu-rays, and eventually digital downloads, but the fundamental principle of separate game titles loaded onto a single console, pioneered by Lawson, endures. Even digital games are essentially "cartridges" in a virtual format.
A Legacy Deserving of Recognition
Jerry Lawson passed away on April 9, 2011, at the age of 70. Towards the end of his life, he began to receive some of the recognition he so rightly deserved, including being honored by the International Game Developers Association. His story is a powerful reminder of the unsung heroes whose innovations form the bedrock of our modern technological world. Every time you pop a game into a console, download a new title, or even swap out a cartridge on a portable system, you're experiencing a direct lineage to the pioneering work of Jerry Lawson.
This summary is based on the key philosophical and political points frequently championed by Dr. Cornel West in his recent 2025–2026 engagements, including his "Truth Matters" dialogue with Robert P. George and his ongoing political activism.
In an era defined by deep polarization and "organized greed," Dr. Cornel West continues to serve as a "prophetic witness," urging us to choose integrity over conformity. Whether discussing his 2024 presidential run or his recent book Truth Matters, West’s message remains a consistent call to love, justice, and truth-telling.
1. The "Funk" of Despair vs. Genuine Hope
Dr. West often speaks about the "funk"—the existential reality of human suffering and catastrophe. He argues that we must be on "intimate terms with despair" without becoming its prisoner. Drawing on the "blues tradition," West suggests that true hope is found not in optimism (which can be sentimental), but in the fortitude to keep fighting even when our backs are against the wall.
2. Truth-Seeking in an Age of Division
Alongside his longtime friend and ideological opposite, Robert P. George, West champions the "virtues of a truth-seeker":
Intellectual Humility: Recognizing that we are all "fallible human beings."
Civil Discourse: Engaging with those we disagree with as a means of mutual moral formation rather than indoctrination.
Character over Career: He critiques the "instrumentalization" of education, urging students to prioritize moral integrity over mere financial success.
3. Dismantling the "Empire" and the "Corporate Duopoly"
Politically, West remains a staunch critic of what he calls the "corporate duopoly" of the two-party system. His recent platforms emphasize:
Abolishing Poverty: Advocating for Universal Basic Income and Medicare for All.
Global Justice: Calling for an end to the "US empire," its military expansion, and support for what he identifies as state violence abroad, specifically in Palestine.
Anti-Fascism: Describing "Trumpism" as an intensified form of American fascism that particularly targets vulnerable communities, including immigrants and the poor.
Conclusion
Dr. West’s philosophy is a blend of democratic socialism, Christian moral sensibility, and American pragmatism. His life’s work is a reminder that "the condition of truth is to allow suffering to speak."
“I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky, my name, not yours, my religion, not yours; my goals, my own, get used to me.” ― Muhammad Ali
In the annals of toy history, few inventions spark as much joyful nostalgia as the Super Soaker. For millions, the iconic water gun defined summer days, backyard battles, and triumphant drenchings. But behind the bright plastic and powerful streams lies a story of ingenuity, perseverance, and a hard-fought battle for what was rightfully owed.
It all began with a brilliant mind and a serendipitous accident. In 1990, Lonnie Johnson, a nuclear engineer who had worked with NASA on the Galileo mission to Jupiter and on stealth bomber programs for the U.S. Air Force, was experimenting with a new kind of heat pump. During his tests, a high-pressure stream of water shot across his bathroom. The engineer in him saw a problem to solve, but the kid in him saw something else entirely: a revolutionary water gun.
"I was trying to make a heat pump that used water as the working fluid, and I accidentally squirted water across the bathroom," Johnson recalled in an interview. "I thought, 'This would make a great water gun.'" And thus, the "Squirt Slinger" was born, later to be famously renamed the Super Soaker.
**From Shower to Super Stardom
**
Johnson's invention was unlike any water gun before it. Traditional water guns relied on simple triggers and limited range. The Super Soaker, however, utilized an air-pressure system that allowed for incredibly powerful and long-distance streams. This innovation transformed water fights forever, making them more dynamic, strategic, and, let's be honest, much wetter.
He licensed his invention to Larami Corporation, which later became part of Hasbro, one of the world's largest toy companies. The Super Soaker hit shelves in 1990 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon. By 1992, it was the best-selling toy in America, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in sales. Lonnie Johnson's invention was a runaway success, solidifying its place in the pantheon of beloved toys.
The Battle for Royalties
Despite the Super Soaker's monumental success, Johnson found himself in a prolonged and frustrating battle over unpaid royalties. For years, he claimed Hasbro had underpaid him for the use of his invention. The dispute was complex, involving intricate licensing agreements and accounting practices.
"It was never about trying to take anything away from them," Johnson stated. "It was about getting what was due."
Finally, after years of legal wrangling, justice prevailed. In 2013, 23 years after his groundbreaking invention, Lonnie Johnson was awarded a staggering $72.9 million in a settlement with Hasbro. This monumental victory was a testament to his unwavering determination and a crucial moment for inventors everywhere. It underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property and ensuring fair compensation for creative genius.
More Than Just a Toy
The Super Soaker's impact extends far beyond the realm of toys. Lonnie Johnson's story is an inspiring example of how curiosity, innovation, and persistence can lead to extraordinary achievements. Today, Johnson continues to invent, holding over 100 patents. He is a passionate advocate for STEM education, encouraging young people, especially minorities, to pursue careers in science and engineering.
"I think it's very important to demonstrate that you don't have to be a geek to be an engineer," Johnson once said, breaking down stereotypes and inspiring future generations.
The Super Soaker remains a beloved toy, a symbol of summer fun and ingenious design. But now, knowing the full story of Lonnie Johnson's journey, it also stands as a powerful reminder that behind every great invention is often a remarkable inventor, whose vision and perseverance can change the world, one powerful stream at a time.
Sources:
"Lonnie Johnson: The Engineer Behind the Super Soaker." Smithsonian National Museum of American History
"Super Soaker inventor Lonnie Johnson awarded $72.9M in Hasbro Settlement." CNN Money, February 8, 2013.
Interviews and statements by Lonnie Johnson (as referenced in various news articles and documentaries).
Public Figure Standard: As a public figure and sitting President, Trump would have to prove "actual malice"—that Noah knew the joke was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. (cite: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98p02yg4jro)
The "Actual Malice" Hurdle: Under the landmark ruling New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, public officials must meet a much higher burden of proof for defamation than private citizens. (cite: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98p02yg4jro)
Pros (for Trump): It keeps the issue in the news cycle, potentially galvanizes his base against "media elites," and serves as a warning to other comedians. (cite: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98p02yg4jro)
President Trump: “Yeah, well he said I spent time on Jeffrey Epstein’s island. I didn’t.”
“He’s a lightweight, this guy, he’s a terrible…I think he’s terrible. I thought he did a terrible job at the Grammys. I thought the whole… pic.twitter.com/m4dm1RWTNg
In a world increasingly focused on personal safety and home security, it's easy to take for granted the sophisticated systems that protect our loved ones and belongings. But have you ever stopped to wonder who we have to thank for these innovations? The answer, surprisingly to many, lies with an extraordinary Black woman named Marie Van Brittan Brown, who, in 1966, forever change the landscape of home security.
A Nurse's Ingenuity Born from Necessity
Marie Van Brittan Brown was a nurse living in Queens, New York, during a time when crime rates were on the rise, and police response times in her neighborhood were often slow. Feeling vulnerable and unsafe in her own home, especially when she was alone at night, Brown decided to take matters into her own hands. She realized there had to be a better way to monitor her surroundings and feel secure.
Driven by this pressing need, Brown, along with her husband Albert Brown, conceived of and patented the very first home security system. This wasn't just a simple alarm; it was a groundbreaking invention that laid the foundation for virtually every modern security system we use today.
The Birth of a Revolution: How Her System Worked
Brown's ingenious system was remarkably advanced for its time. It featured:
A set of four peepholes: These were strategically placed on her front door to offer different vantage points.
A sliding camera: This camera could move between the peepholes, allowing the homeowner to see who was at the door from different heights.
A monitor: The camera's feed was displayed on a television monitor inside the house, providing a visual of the visitor.
A two-way microphone system: This allowed for verbal communication with the person outside.
A remote-controlled door unlock button: This innovative feature allowed the resident to remotely grant access.
An alarm button: In case of an emergency or suspicious activity, pressing this button would alert the police.
This invention, granted U.S. Patent 3,482,037 on December 2, 1969, was a precursor to modern closed-circuit television (CCTV) and integrated home security systems.
The Evolution of Home Security: From Brown's Vision to Smart Homes
Marie Van Brittan Brown's invention was truly foundational. Let's trace how security systems have evolved, building upon her initial brilliance:
Early 1970s - 1980s: The Rise of Basic Alarm Systems: Following Brown's patent, basic alarm systems became more prevalent. These typically involved sensors on doors and windows connected to a central control panel and a siren. While effective at deterring intruders, they lacked the visual and interactive components of Brown's original design.
1990s: Integrating CCTV and Monitoring Services: As technology advanced, CCTV cameras became more common in commercial settings and gradually made their way into some residential applications. The emergence of professional monitoring services also added another layer of security, with alarms being routed to a central station that could dispatch authorities.
2000s: Wireless Technology and Remote Access: The new millennium brought significant advancements in wireless technology, making security system installation less intrusive and more flexible. Remote access via phone lines or early internet connections started to appear, allowing homeowners to arm/disarm their systems from afar.
2010s: The Dawn of Smart Home Security: This decade saw an explosion in smart home technology. Security systems began integrating with other smart devices like thermostats, lighting, and voice assistants. Features like high-definition cameras with night vision, motion detection, cloud storage, and smartphone app control became standard.
Today: AI, Facial Recognition, and Comprehensive Integration: Modern home security systems are incredibly sophisticated. They often incorporate artificial intelligence for advanced analytics, facial recognition to distinguish residents from strangers, and seamless integration with entire smart home ecosystems. From video doorbells to drone surveillance, the options for home security are vast and continuously evolving.
The Lasting Legacy
Marie Van Brittan Brown's original patent is still cited in many modern security patents, a testament to the enduring impact of her vision. Thanks to her foresight and determination, we can all feel a greater sense of safety and control over our personal spaces. Her story is a powerful reminder of the often-overlooked contributions of Black inventors and the profound impact that ingenuity, born from a simple need, can have on the world.
Next time you check your security camera feed or arm your alarm system, take a moment to remember Marie Van Brittan Brown – the unsung heroine who made our homes safer, one innovative idea at a time.
Sources:
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): Patent Number 3,482,037 (Home Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance)
National Inventors Hall of Fame: Marie Van Brittan Brown (While not yet inducted, her story is widely recognized by inventor advocacy groups and historical societies.)
Various historical and technological articles on the evolution of home security. (Specific articles can be found by searching for "history of home security systems" and "Marie Van Brittan Brown invention.")
A recent viral video circulates a somber roll call: Patrice Lumumba. Thomas Sankara. Chris Hani. Amílcar Cabral.
For a casual viewer, this is a history lesson—a list of African heads of state and revolutionaries whose lives were cut short by assassination. But for the African Diaspora, this is not just a list of names; it is a family tree of resistance.
While these leaders fought for the liberation of the Congo, Burkina Faso, or South Africa, their influence defied borders. Their defiance against imperialism provided a blueprint for Black Power movements in the United States, anti-colonial struggles in the Caribbean, and cultural awakenings in Europe. They proved that the fight for Black liberation was not local, but global.
Here is how the lives—and deaths—of these African revolutionaries shaped the identity, politics, and soul of the Diaspora.
1. The Global Martyr: Patrice Lumumba (DRC)
Assassinated: 1961
When Patrice Lumumba was executed in 1961, the shockwaves were felt far beyond the Congo. In New York City, Black activists stormed the United Nations in protest—a watershed moment that explicitly linked the Civil Rights Movement in the US to the anti-colonial struggle in Africa.
Lumumba became an instant martyr for the Diaspora. He symbolized the terrifying lengths to which imperial powers would go to silence Black autonomy. His death radicalized a generation of activists; Malcolm X frequently cited Lumumba, calling him "the greatest Black man who ever walked the African continent" for his refusal to compromise.
The Diaspora Legacy: Lumumba’s execution signaled to Black Americans and Caribbeans that their fight for civil rights was part of a global war against white supremacy.
2. The Intellectual Bridge: Amílcar Cabral & Eduardo Mondlane
Assassinated: 1973 (Cabral) & 1969 (Mondlane)
Liberation isn't just about guns; it's about ideas. Amílcar Cabral (Guinea-Bissau) and Eduardo Mondlane (Mozambique) were warrior-intellectuals whose theories are still studied in Black Studies departments from London to Brazil.
Mondlane, who taught at Syracuse University in New York, physically bridged the gap between American academia and African warfare. Cabral, meanwhile, famously engaged directly with the Diaspora, speaking to Black organizations in Harlem. He distinguished between "brothers" (shared ancestry) and "comrades" (shared political struggle), giving the Diaspora a theoretical framework to understand their own identity as a weapon of resistance.
The Diaspora Legacy: They internationalized the Black Power movement, turning it from a plea for inclusion into a demand for systemic change.
3. The Icon of Integrity: Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso)
Assassinated: 1987
Thomas Sankara is often called "Africa's Che Guevara," but for many young Pan-Africanists in the Diaspora today, he stands alone.
Sankara’s rejection of foreign aid ("He who feeds you, controls you") mirrored the "Do For Self" philosophy of Black American leaders like Marcus Garvey. His assassination was not just a political coup; it was viewed by the Diaspora as the murder of a possibility—the proof that an African nation could be self-sufficient and fiercely independent without Western oversight.
The Diaspora Legacy: In the digital age, Sankara has found new life. His speeches on women’s rights and environmentalism are viral content for Black millennials and Gen Z in the West, serving as a modern blueprint for progressive Black politics.
While Nelson Mandela is the global face of peace, Chris Hani was the face of economic justice. As the leader of the South African Communist Party and chief of staff of Umkhonto we Sizwe, Hani represented the uncompromised demand for land and resources, not just voting rights.
His assassination in 1993, on the eve of democracy, nearly ignited a civil war. For the Diaspora, particularly those involved in radical politics in the UK and US, Hani represented the "road not taken"—a focus on the redistribution of wealth that remains the central conversation in discussions about reparations today.
The Diaspora Legacy: Hani remains a symbol of the unfinished work of liberation—the reminder that political freedom without economic power is incomplete.
5. The Spiritual Anchor: Haile Selassie (Ethiopia)
Assassinated: 1975
While his political legacy in Ethiopia is complex, Haile Selassie’s impact on the Caribbean Diaspora is theological and absolute. As the defining figure of Rastafarianism, he provided a spiritual anchor for descendants of enslaved Africans in Jamaica who had been stripped of their history.
For the Rastafari movement, Selassie was not just a king; he was a messiah. His 1966 visit to Jamaica remains one of the most significant cultural events in Caribbean history.
The Diaspora Legacy: Through Reggae music, Selassie’s image carried the message of Pan-Africanism to the entire world, influencing everyone from Bob Marley to modern hip-hop culture.
The assassination of these leaders was an attempt to kill an idea. However, history shows that these bullets often had the opposite effect. They turned men into myths and local struggles into global causes.
Today, when a young person in the Diaspora wears a t-shirt with Sankara’s face, quotes Lumumba, or listens to Reggae praising Selassie, they are proving a vital truth: The revolutionaries were silenced, but the revolution remains loud.
