Spreading Good News (Post 764 - BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Bessie Blount)

The goal of Spreading Good News is for readers to:

GET INSPIRED and/or GET MOTIVATED and/or GET INFORMED and/or GET AWE-STRUCK and/or GET A BREAK FROM ALL THE NEGATIVE NEWS and to tell readers about our good, short books and our online store.

 

CLICK THE “BE INSPIRED!” BUTTON (ABOVE) TO VIEW OUR BOOKS AND OUR ONLINE STORE!!  In our online store, we have “World Peace” and other great merchandise, as well as “Meaningful Messages,” which are unique greeting cards that address serious issues, including incarceration, terminal illness, and heart-to-heart cards.

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CONSTANT QUOTE

 

 

IT’S BETTER TO DIE CHASING A DREAM NEVER CAUGHT THAN TO DIE NEVER HAVING CHASED THE DREAM.  ~ Joyce Fields

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BE A POSITIVE EXAMPLE, NOT A NEGATIVE ONE.  ~ Joyce Fields

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THE ANTI-BULLYING PLEDGE

It’s FREE and available at http://www.GoodShortBooks.com!  A useful and very effective tool against bullying.

Gives kids something to live up to–their own pledge!

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TODAY’S BLOG

We all should know more about the contributions that African-Americans have made in the fields of science and medicine, as well as art, music, the written word, sports, and just-everyday life.

During “Black History Month,” (February) I will continue Spreading Good News about Black History on Monday through Thursday.  On Fridays, I will keep posting the very popular “Funny Friday” pieces!

I hope you enjoy this piece of Black History!

 

BLACK HISTORY MONTH:  Bessie Blount, Inventor of the Portable Receptacle Support Device

The electrical device allowed a tube to deliver one mouthful of food at a time to a patient in a wheelchair or in a bed whenever he or she bit down on the tube.

Bessie Blount, was a physical therapist who worked with soldiers injured in W.W.II.  Bessie Blount’s war service inspired her to patent a device, in 1951, that allowed amputees to feed themselves.  The electrical device allowed a tube to deliver one mouthful of food at a time to a patient in a wheelchair or in a bed whenever he or she bit down on the tube.  She later invented a portable receptacle support that was a simpler and smaller version of the same, designed to be worn around a patient’s neck.

Bessie Blount was born in Hickory, Virginia, in 1914.  She moved from Virginia to New Jersey where she studied to be a physical therapist at the Panzar College of Physical Education and at Union Junior College and then furthered her training as a physical therapist in Chicago.  In 1951, Bessie started teaching Physical Therapy at the Bronx Hospital in New York.

She was unable to successfully market her valuable inventions and found no support from the United States Veteran’s Administration, so she gave the patent rights to the French government in 1952.  The French government put the device to good use, helping to make life better for many war vets.

“A black woman can invent something for the benefit of humankind.” – Bessie Blount

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Share your comment about this post.

NOTE FROM JOYCE:  If you enjoyed and/or learned from this blog, please leave a comment and send the link to others.  Thanks!!

If you’re interested in reading all about “My Breast Cancer Journey,” those posts start with post #334.

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~ Joyce Fields

 

ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS FROM JOYCE FIELDS

Joyce is an author who has written seven books.  If you enjoy this blog, you will, undoubtedly, enjoy all her books.  Her sister, Anita, is also an author.

BE INSPIRED!  You can read about and order their books AND order merchandise from their online store at this link (or click the “BE INSPIRED!” button above):

http://lineofserenity.wordpress.com/get-more-inspiration/

Thanks for your interest AND support!!

Contact Joyce at goodshortbooks@yahoo.com.

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SOME OF JOYCE’S FAVORITE BLOGS

I visit these blogs and leave comments regularly.  I think you will enjoy them all!

http://www.lenasledgeblog.com  Books, reviews, give-aways, interviews.

http://living4bliss.com  Believing Life Is Set up for Success (BLISS)

http://goss-coaching.com/author/gosscoaching  A professional writer and wellness coach helping people connect thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and action to create optimal health and a vibrant life.

http://www.thebirkineffect.com  Musings of a “want it all” 21st century woman.

http://www.thesweetsensations.com  A baking, entertainment, and lifestyle blog.  Fantastic recipes and food photography, too!

http://www.pennilessparenting.com  A rich life on minimum wage.  Plus fabulous, healthful recipes!

http://www.rumpydog.com  I’m a dog with a unique perspective on human life.

http://www.davidkanigan.com/  Lead.Learn.Live.  David Kanigan:  Inspiration, Ideas & Information.

http://callingoftheheart.wordpress.com  Spirituality, Psychology, and Political.

http://www.petedenton.wordpress.com  Writer of short stories, Flash fiction, and some scripts.