Black Inventions Museum Shows Who to Thank for Everyday Items

BLACK HISTORY: Kindergarten through fifth-grade students at Howard Wood Elementary School in Torrance kicked off Black History Month by visiting the Black Scientists and Inventors exhibit earlier this week.

Umar Shabazz Bey, a spokesman for the mobile Black Inventions Museum, explained that the exhibit traces black inventions dating back hundreds of years.

“Every day, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep, you use something invented by a black person,” Bey told each class.

More than 50 items invented by blacks, including the stethoscope, ice cream scoop, gas mask, rolling pin, typewriter, pencil sharpener, egg beater, ironing board and guitar, were on display with the name of the inventor and the year they were invented.

“Did you know the guitar was invented by a black person? What would Elvis Presley have done without one?” Bey asked a fourth-grade class.

Garima Loharuka, 10, said her favorite invention in the exhibit is the typewriter. Nine-year-old Sharon Chang did not know that the hairbrush was created by a black woman, and Robert Cottone, also 9, said he would have liked to take the Super-Soaker, a large squirt gun, home with him.

NEW SCIENCE CENTER: Southern California Edison Co. has announced it will build a science and education center at its Redondo Beach generating plant to teach inner-city youths about the environment and possibly prepare them for careers in marine biology.

The power company agreed to the $5.5-million project as part of a $17-million settlement with an environmental group, Earth Island Institute, which had charged Edison with damaging wetlands near its San Onofre nuclear power plant in northern San Diego County.

Plans for the science center include expanding its existing small marine laboratory to about 8,000 square feet, adding aquariums, exhibits, an office and a classroom, said Bob Jensen, Edison’s area manager for the beach cities.

The marine science and education center should be completed by mid-1994, Jensen said.

LANGUAGE ARTS: Four Redondo Beach schools will share $44,000 in special Educational Technology Grant money made available by the state Department of Education.

Adams Middle School will set up a writing and publishing center to enhance its language arts program for all students. Beryl Heights Elementary School will develop laser disc technology to create student portfolios and help them with their writing skills. Jefferson Elementary School will use video discs in math, as well as integrate the science and math curriculum. And Nick G. Parras Middle School will concentrate on writing, using the computer lab and multimedia equipment for composition and publication.

Items for the weekly Class Notes column can be mailed to The Times South Bay office, 23133 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance 90505, or faxed to (310) 373-5753 for staff reporter Lorna Fernandes.