By Rina N. Risper
The New Citizens Press
LANSING, MI — At first glance, one would have thought the room of more than a hundred people at the Clark Center at Sparrow Hospital (St. Lawrence Campus) were listening to a comedienne. The laughter spilled out into the hallway was evidence that everyone was having a great time.
But be assured that the laughter was just a way of breaking the ice that led to a powerful learning experience. Speaker, Bettye Thomas-Gilkey had the packed room riveted as she used humor to teach serious facts about the contributions that African-American inventors have made.
Thomas-Gilkey was the featured presenter at a Sparrow Diversity event during Black History Month. She is the founder of the Foundations of Awareness Group for the Black Inventors Traveling Exhibit that started in 1987.
Collecting items and providing facts about African-American inventors who have changed the lives of people all around the world has been Thomas-Gilkey’s passion. She started her collection with antiques and decided that she wanted to have a more interactive exhibit.
“I wanted to have an exhibit that people could touch and learn from at the same time,” explained Thomas-Gilkey.
Her energetic delivery kept the participants engaged as she worked the room asking questions and showing the audience pieces from her collection. The “Exhibit Hands On Walk-Around” was a big hit. Thomas-Gilkey asked the audience who made the mop while holding a miniature mop in her hand.
Even more exciting was the “Black Inventors Quiz” as the room was split in two for a quest to see which side of the room remembered the most.
Incredibly, she has able to store minute details of the lives of hundreds of the inventors in her mind. She didn’t present too much information on well-known inventors like George Washington Carver, who researched the peanut in more ways than one can count. She spoke about lesser known innovators like Alice Parker who invented the furnace and A.C. Richardson who created the churn. There were no patents for African Americans prior to slavery. Most of the time since a slave was considered property the slave-holder took credit for the invention.
There has been a comprehensive range of diverse products that have been created or improved upon by African Americans. Thomas-Gilkey’s timely presentation reminded us of the importance of the commitment to educate the masses about African Americans who made significant contributions to American History.
Thomas-Gilkey has committed a lifetime of service to fighting racial and social injustice. As a young student, she attended an all white elementary school during the peak years of civil rights movement. She encountered overt racism though rejection, exclusion and the constant name calling. Her self-esteem suffered many years.
At the age of 12, she learned about the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which allowed her to meet positive young African Americans who were committed to racial and social justice. Joining the NAACP was influential in changing a young woman and planted the seeds that still encourages Thomas-Gilkey to be outspoken about issues that she cares about.
She also offers several other seminars including “Women Inventors”.
Sonny Ndowu waited until the room cleared to have an opportunity to speak to Thomas-Gilkey. Ndowu praised the program and thanked her for bestowing knowledge to a group of people who may not have been too informed prior to the event.
Ndowu said, “We have a rich culture. This was such a tremendous day to learn about the contributions of Black people. This information provides hope. It allows Blacks to stand on their own and to show people that no matter what they can be and do anything.”
For more information, please contact Bettye Thomas-Gilkey at 517-886-7437.
