THE BELFIELD BANTER - BLACK HISTORY MONTH EDITION FEBUARY 27TH | BANTER PUBLICATIONS | ISSUE VI
BHM Spotlights
ODUMUNC XLIX
Originally a single week of remembrance chosen in 1926 to overlap the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, Black History Month is now celebrated the entire month of February. Since President Ford’s 1975 Message on the Observance of Black History Week, presidents have regularly issued proclamations and messages of the national observance of Black History Month. President Reagan’s 1986 Presidential Proclamation 5443 stated the month is a time “to celebrate the many achievements of African Americans in every field from science and the arts to politics and religion.” In that way, let us look at four lesser-known Americans who have shaped those fields today.
For the first time in years, our school had the opportunity to attend ODUMUNC; one of the larger Model UN conferences, hosted by Old Dominion University in Norfolk. Being freshmen and new club members in general, neither of us had any idea what this meant. The seniors, on the other hand, practically rejoiced as soon as they heard the news from Mrs. Rubenoff and Mr. Shoup. Acknowledging the excitement, we also signed up with friends, and before anyone knew it, hotel rooms and committees were assigned. Weeks became days, days became hours, and it was finally time.
By Imogen Fagan ‘27
Science – Alice Augusta Ball (July 24, 1892 - December 31, 1916) Excelling academically at a young age, Alice Ball received a pharmaceutical chemistry degree and her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Washington. During her studies she published a research paper in the Journal of the American Chemical Society on benzoylation reactions, making her the first African-American woman to be published in a major scientific journal. After becoming a chemistry instructor at the University of Hawai’i, Ball developed the first successful treatment for leprosy. Although she died unexpectedly before publishing her findings, Ball’s treatment was used for decades before modern technological advancements.
By Noah Zeisler ‘29 and Ian Turnbull ‘29