By Tamara Shiloh

George Cook was a Black American inventor from Louisville, Kentucky. He was born in 1863, during a time when Black Americans faced unfair laws, limited opportunities, and many barriers to education, jobs, and recognition. Even with these challenges, he became known for his intelligence, honesty, and ability to think in practical ways. Some records say he worked as a cook for Buffalo Bill Cody and later as a chef on a private dining car for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. He was even known by the nickname “Honest Mister Cook.”

As with many Black American inventors and scientists of that era, there is little biographical information about Mr. Cook.

Cook’s most famous invention was the Automatic Fishing Device. He received U.S. Patent No. 625,829 for it on May 30, 1899. His patent shows that he was not just someone with an idea, but someone who made it happen.

So, what did the Automatic Fishing Device do? Imagine fishing with a line in the water. Usually, you have to watch carefully and pull the line at just the right moment when a fish bites. Cook wanted to make that process easier. His device was designed to react when a fish pulled on the line. The tension from the fish would trigger a lever. That lever would release a spring-loaded part of the device, causing it to move quickly and help pull in the line. The device also had an alarm gong that would ring to let the fisher know something was happening.

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This invention was important because it used simple mechanical ideas in a clever way. Springs, levers, rails, and alarms were not new by themselves, but Cook combined them to solve a real problem. His device showed how inventors often take familiar parts and arrange them in a new way to make life easier. 

Cook looked at fishing and asked, “How can this be improved?” Then, he created a device that could respond automatically when a fish tugged on the line. His invention let fishermen relax instead of watching the line for hours, trusting the alarm to alert them.

Cook may not be as famous as some inventors, but his Automatic Fishing Device shows that creativity and innovation can be applied anywhere. His legacy lives on as part of the larger story of Black innovation in America.

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By Post Staff

The Bay Area Chapter of 100 Black Men is sending nine youth athletes from its 100 Black Wings’ Team Oakland Delegation to Taiwan on Thursday, July 30, to represent the City of Oakland at the 58th International Children’s Games (IGC) in Hualien County, Taiwan.

The Games will bring together young athletes ages 12 to 15 from 76 city delegations around the world. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Aug. 2, and athletic competitions take place Aug. 3-5.

While many international competitions center around national teams, the ICG brings young people together as representatives of their respective cities. This year’s theme – “Shining Hualien, Shining Together!” – reflects the host city’s vision of using sports, education, culture, and tourism to promote friendship, peace, inclusion, and sustainable development.

“Team Oakland’s participation demonstrates what can happen when young people are given opportunity, preparation, and a community that believes in them,” said Danny L. Williams, chairman of 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, Inc. 

“These athletes will carry Oakland’s talent, strength, and spirit onto an international stage while building relationships that can extend far beyond the competition,” he said.

Team Oakland will compete in track and field events including the 100-meter and 400-meter races, hurdles, long jump, shot put, javelin, and traditional and mixed 4×100-meter relays.

The athletes representing Oakland are: DeWayne Littlepage, Gia Goodlow, Abisewolu Redmond, Mahari Moore, Marvin Thomas, Najae Ellison, Royal Moore, Sir Kamryn Lloyd, and Jasani Highsmith.

The delegation’s coaching leadership includes Head Coach Dr. Tommie Smith, the

1968 Olympic gold medalist in the 200-meter sprint; Senior Coach Margaret Dixon;

Girls Coach Evangela Dixon; Strength and Conditioning Coach Nola Turnage;

and Boys Coach Michael Flood, Jr.

Delegation leadership also includes Williams, Head of Delegation Juanita Metters-Upshur, and city representative Dr. Mark Alexander. 

“Our athletes have trained with tremendous discipline, but this journey represents much more than competition,” said Metters-Upshur, head of delegation.  “They will have the opportunity to travel internationally, proudly represent Oakland, experience another culture, and form friendships with young people from communities across the world.  We are incredibly proud of them and grateful to the families, coaches, partners, and supporters who have helped make this experience possible.”

In addition to track and field, the games will feature swimming, tennis, table tennis, Taekwondo, archery, football, and 3×3 basketball. Hualien County is located between Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean and hosts the International Children’s Games for the first time this year.

The International Children’s Games were founded in 1968 by Slovenian coach Metod Klemenc, based on the belief that sports can bridge differences in culture, religion, and race. 

The ICG is approved by the International Olympic Committee and emphasizes friendship, fair play, teamwork, perseverance, and cultural understanding among young people.

The Oakland delegation’s participation reflects the 100 Black Wings’ programmatic commitment to developing young people through athletic achievement, discipline, leadership, cultural exposure, and global citizenship.  

Team Oakland is supported by a network of families, coaches, community partners, and advocates who believe that international experiences can expand how young people view themselves and their possibilities.

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In a speech to an audience of local residents and community leaders, Port Commissioner and Maritime Attorney Derrick Muhammad delivered a presentation recently to answer a question that might seem simple on its surface but one that has many aspects that are crucial for the future of the East Bay. “What does it mean for the City of Oakland to be a port city?”

Summing up the theme of his talk on Saturday, July 25, at Youth Uprising in East Oakland, Mr. Muhammad said, “Rather than advocating a particular policy, the presentation sought to increase public understanding of one of Oakland’s most important public assets by connecting the city’s history, labor movement, transportation network, and global economy into a single narrative.” 

In attendance were many East Bay residents and community leaders, including retired third-generation longshoreman and prominent Black labor leader Clarence Thomas, civil rights attorney and former Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, Secretary-Treasurer of Alameda Labor Council Keith Brown, Isaac Kos-Read of Kos-Read Group, president of the National Council of Negro Women, and Alameda County Aisha Williams.

Quiana Canada, C.O.O. of Youth UpRising, said she was excited to learn

about the pathways and workforce development opportunities for our youth.  This weekend provided a wonderful introduction to the history and impact of being a Port City.  We thank all of the organizers and sponsors for their ongoing commitment to the future of our youth.”  

Commissioner Muhammad explored the evolution of Oakland as a Port City,

how rail, the waterfront, and wartime expansion were catalysts for the growth of West Oakland, both locally and for the development of containerization and global trade.

He also examined the Port of Oakland’s role as an economic engine and its contributions to creating career pathways into the maritime economy, developing small-business opportunities connected to the waterfront, advancing environmental stewardship and modernization, and shaping potential futures for the port.

He also emphasized that the Port is much more than ships and cranes that the public can see as it passes by on the highway. It is a major economic engine that provides a gateway to middle-class careers, international trade, a public asset, and an important part of Oakland’s historic identity.

The presentation concluded with a question-and-answer session that addressed topics including contracting, automation, workforce development, international trade, environmental sustainability, and maritime careers.

Looking ahead, this presentation was intended to become part of an ongoing community education initiative designed to increase public understanding of the maritime economy and encourage broader civic engagement around Oakland’s waterfront.

Future presentations are expected to expand on additional topics related to transportation, logistics, labor history, international trade, and economic opportunity.

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