A View From a Pew: So You Want To Go Back When America Was Great? Ok, Let’s Go Back

President/ Publisher

Wane A. Hailes

I consider myself an educated man. Some might even say I am a learned individual. Much of what I have learned has not necessarily come from book sense, but rather common sense and lessons learned through life’s experiences. 

It is because of my life’s experiences I have developed, what Merriam-Webster describes as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure; the ability to judge people and things well; to “read between the lines” if you will.

That is why when someone says, “Make America “GREAT” Again”, I hear the “Code Words”; “Make America “WHITE” Again.” What comes to my mind is that “They” want to go back to a time when people like me had to drink from a separate water fountain. “They” want to go back to a time when people like me had to go to the back door of a restaurant to order my food and then sit outside to eat it.

Truth be told, if they knew like I know, they wouldn’t want to go back to those “Good Ole’ days”.  If you think back, those “Good Ole’ Days” weren’t really that good especially if “WE” weren’t around.

Think about this: America wasn’t so great before Richard Spikes, a black man, invented the automatic gearshift, Joseph Gambol, also black, invented the Super Charge System for internal combustion engines, and Garrett A. Morgan, a black man, invented the traffic signals.

How great was America before Alexander Mils, a black man, invented the elevator? Before there was a rapid transit system because its precursor was the electric trolley, which was invented by another black man, Albert R. Robinson. 

Even if there were streets on which cars and a rapid transit system could operate; they would be cluttered with paper because an African American, Charles Brooks, invented the street sweeper.

If it weren’t for John Love who invented the pencil sharpener, William Purveys the fountain pen, Lee Barrage the Type Writing Machine, and W.A. Love the Advanced Printing Press how great was America then? They were all Black.

Even if White Americans could write their letters, articles and books, they would not be transported by mail because these Black men; William Barry invented the Postmarking and Canceling Machine, William Purveys invented the Hand Stamp, and Phillip Downing invented the Letter Drop. Lawns would be brown and wilted because Joseph Smith invented the lawn sprinkler and John Burr the lawn mower. 

How great was America, back in the “Good Ole’ Days” when you entered your homes and found them to be poorly ventilated and poorly heated? You see, Frederick Jones invented the air conditioner and Alice Parker the heating furnace. Their homes were also dim. But of course, Lewis Latimer invented the electric lamp, Michael Harvey invented the lantern and Granville T. Woods invented the automatic cutoff switch. Yes, more Black people.

Was America great back then when homes were filthy before Thomas W. Steward invented the mop and Lloyd P. Ray the dustpan? Children would walk around barefooted, shabby, motley and unkempt. But what could one expect? Jan E. Matzelinger invented the shoe-lasting machine, Walter Sammons invented the comb, Sarah Boone invented the ironing board, and George T. Samon invented the clothes dryer. Finally, they would be resigned to at least have dinner amidst all this turmoil. But here again, the food would spoil because another Black man, John Standard invented the refrigerator.  

Since I have your undivided attention, here are a few more things they might want to consider in their America without Black people.  Marie Ban Brittan Brown invented Closed-circuit television security. The next time someone says to you they believe that they should “Make America Great Again” ask them if they or any of their family members have a pacemaker. If the answer is yes then ask them to kindly give it back because a black man, Otis Boykin invented it along with the IBM computer. 

Tell them to give you their children’s “Super Soaker” because Lonnie G. Johnson invented them along with the Thermoelectric Energy Converter. Tell them next time they need blood don’t call the blood bank because Charles Drew developed that. 

Let them know Marian R. Croak invented the VOIP (Voice-Over Internet Protocol), Lisa Gelobter invented the Shockwave (genesis of animation on the web),  online video, Philip Emeagwalie invented the world’s fastest computer and Mary and Mildred Davidson invented the Sanitary belt, walker and toilet paper holder.

So, the next time you see anyone wearing a hat or hear anyone say the slogan “Make America Great Again” no need to get mad. Just remember what Winston Churchill said: Never engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed man. 

There “ain’t” nothing wrong with America except those people who think we need to make America great again.