Hands On
Black History Museum
Black History Museum
Guest Speakers
Sterling Ashby was the museum's first guest speaker. Mr. Ashby shared experiences about Bessie Coleman, the first licensed African American airplane pilot, Matthew Henson, African American explorer, and Benjamin Banneker, an African American mathematician, from his first line of African American action figures. Mr. Ashby is a lawyer in the Washington D.C. area and is founder of HIA toys (History in Action).
To find out more about him or his projects, go to:
http://www.hiatoys.com/
To find out more about him or his projects, go to:
http://www.hiatoys.com/
Ms. Barbara Bailey was our first 2010 guest speaker for the "What's my Line" game. Ms. Bailey isVice President, Chief Operating Officer, Grace Hill Neighborhood Health Centers, Inc.
Ms. Bailey has more than 25 years experience as a health care professional and currently has oversight of operations at six Grace Hill locations. She previously held the positions of Director of Nursing
Services and Health Center Manager. During her tenure at Grace Hill, she opened Grace Hill's sixth primary care site, Grace Hill @ BJC Behavioral Health.
Colonel Craig O'Neal was a "What's My Line?" guest presenter. Mr. O'Neal enjoyed sharing exerpts from his thirty year Air Force career experience. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Colonol O'Neal is presently stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
What's My Line contestant number 3, Lakisha Jackson is a web producer from Illinois that works at St. Louis's KMOV. Having a Bachelor of Science in mass communications, Lakisha applies her skills in hosting KMOV's "The Buzz" videos and updating her "Say What?!" blog.
Julian Grace, and Indianapolis native, got his start in television at WLNS, the CBS station in Lansing, Michigan. He baffled the students during his visit on What's My Line before finally revealing his position serving the News 4 team in St. Louis, using his years of experience to break stories and present news.
Technical Sergeant George Watson, Sr. was a Stock Control Chief and Unit Supervisor assigned to the 96th Service Group, 336th Service Squadron, 100th Pursuit Squadron at Tuskegee Airfield, Alabama. Sergeant Watson trained at the Tuskegee Army Flying Field and served as a member of the ground support for the black pilots who flew during World War II. He tirelessly promotes the history of the Tuskegee Airmen and works as the historian of the Hannibal M. “Killer” Cox Jr. Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., located at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.
George Watson came to the museum on the 22nd and shared his experiences with the students. They were quite fascinated as he told them of his difficulties, his triumphs, and some humorous stories. Furthermore, he added to the museum by donating jackets, hats, books, and posters.
Update:
On May 10th, 2010, George Watson was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during an air raid. He was worried that if he reported his injury, because of the color of his skin, he would be sent back to infantry and away from the Tuskegee Airmen. Because there was no official report, the Army did not award him a Purple Heart. This changed on the tenth when, after much crusading and much aid, he was awarded his Purple Heart.
For more on this story, please click here.
