Feb: Celebrating Black History Month

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Feb 1

Feb is devoted to honoring the important roles African-Americans have played in the history of the US. That's why Lincoln is proud to celebrate African American individuals and groups throughout Black History Month.

These lesser known facts were compiled by Lincoln's Afrikan Self-Care Committee. Our hope is to shine a light on the cultural pride and societal contributions of people of African descent in the US and beyond as a celebration of the Black community many Lincoln staff are a part of, and ALL Lincoln staff serve.

Wed | Feb 1 | The McClymonds Warriors

On December 19th, 2016, McClymonds High School competed for the CIF state championship crown in the 5-A finals against La Jolla-Country Day in Southern California and WON! It was not only a historic first for the West Oakland School but no other football team in the Oakland Athletic League had ever made it that far. GO WARRIORS!

Thur | Feb 2 | Allyson Felix

Native Californian and Olympian Allyson Felix is a four-time recipient of the Jesse Owens Award from USATF signifying the Athlete of the Year. She won the award for the first time in 2005, and then again in 2007, 2010 and 2012. She is only the second woman (after Marion Jones) to win the award three times. Felix also won the IAAF female athlete of the year in 2012. Felix is the only female track and field athlete to ever win six Olympic gold medals, and is tied with Jamaica’s Merlene Ottey as the most decorated female Olympian in track and field history, with a total of nine Olympic medals.

Fri | Feb 3 | Marc Hannah

In 1982, electrical engineer and computer graphics designer Marc Regis Hannah co-founded Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) with Jim Clark and five others, a company that went on to be well-known for its computer graphics technology. In 1986, he was named the company’s principal scientist for the creation of computer programs like Personal IRIS, Indigo, Indigo2, and Indy graphics that were used to create effects for movies like Jurassic Park, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Hunt for Red October, and Field of Dreams. George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic used Silicon Graphics’ technology to create Terminator 2. Hannah’s programs have also been used to create television commercials and the opening introduction for Monday Night Football. In addition, the company’s technology was used in engineering, research, and for military applications. Hannah is a partial owner of Rondeau Bay, a construction company in Oakland, California.

Mon | Feb 6 | Mikaila Ulmer

When 12 year old Mikaila was just four, her family encouraged her to make a product for a Children's business competition (the Acton Children’s Business Fair) and Austin Lemonade Day. While she was planning her entry, two big events happened. She was stung by a bee. Twice. Then her Great Granny Helen sent the family a 1940's cookbook, which included her special recipe for Flaxseed Lemonade. Though Mikaila was scared by the bee stings she became fascinated with bees. She learned all about what they do for our ecosystem. That's how Me & the Bees Lemonade was born. Year-after-year, Mikaila, sells-out of her Me & the Bees Lemonade at youth entrepreneurial events while donating a percentage of the profits from the sale of her lemonade to local and international organizations fighting hard to save the honeybees. Today, the award-winning Me & the Bees Lemonade is buzzing off the shelves of Whole Foods Market and available at a growing number of restaurants, food trailers and natural food delivery companies.

Tue | Feb 7 | Vivien Theodore Thomas

Vivien Theodore Thomas (August 29, 1910 – November 26, 1985) was an African-American surgical technician who developed the procedures used to treat ‘blue baby syndrome’ in the 1940s. He served as supervisor of the surgical laboratories at Johns Hopkins for 35 years. In 1976 Hopkins awarded him an honorary doctorate and named him an instructor of surgery for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Without any education past high school, Thomas rose above poverty and racism to become a cardiac surgery pioneer and a teacher of operative techniques to many of the country's most prominent surgeons. Check out the film based on his life entitled Something the Lord Made which premiered on HBO in 2004.

Wed | Feb 8 | Alice Coachman

Alice Marie Coachman (November 9, 1923 – July 14, 2014) the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in London in 1948. Her athletic career began in 1939 when she joined the Tuskegee Preparatory School at the age of 16 after being offered a scholarship. Coachman went on to graduate with a degree in dressmaking from Tuskegee in 1946. The following year she continued her studies at Albany State College, receiving a B.A. in home economics with a minor in science in 1949 and becoming a teacher. Coachman's athletic career ended when she was 24. She dedicated the rest of her life to education and to the Job Corps.