Black History

Motown Museum Hosts Second Annual Black Legacy Program Event

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE — Motown Museum announced today that it will host its second annual Black Legacy Program public event.

Published

5 years ago

February 8, 2019

AJ Williams Michigan Chronicle City.Life.Style. Editor

By AJ Williams

Motown Museum announced today that it will host its second annual Black Legacy Program public event celebrating both black multigenerational and millennial owned and operated businesses in Detroit and honoring the entrepreneurial legacy of the Gordy family on Wednesday, February 20 in honor of Black History Month. Motown Museum Chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry made the announcement.

During the event, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. at 12c (formerly NextEnergy), located at 461 Burroughs St., attendees will hear from a panel of local Detroit business owners about the importance of black business in Detroit, as well as the successes and challenges they have faced—both past and present. Camille Walker Banks, Executive Director of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses at Wayne State University will also provide expert business advice to attendees during the event. Paul Riser, managing director of TechTown, will serve as moderator for the discussion and will offer expert business advice.

The businesses participating in the discussion include:

LaTonya Berry (Rock the Fro);
Alice Brazelton (Brazelton’s Floral);
Edmond Douglas (Avis Ford); and
Darryl Humes (Mature Clothing).

“Berry Gordy turned an $800 loan from his family savings club into a historic music empire—and one of the most successful and recognizable black businesses in the world. That legacy of innovation, ambition and business acumen has left an indelible mark on Detroit—and on the broader cultural landscape,” said Terry. “As we celebrate Motown Records’ 60th anniversary this year, we are honored to celebrate Black History Month with our second annual Black Legacy Program event. We look forward to providing the community an opportunity to learn from the incredible instincts and invaluable insights provided by an up-and-coming generation of thriving local black businesses.”

In addition to upcoming celebratory moments and ‘Archives Dives’ during 2019, Motown Museum will host its popular lineup of core programming, including the Motown Mic: The Spoken Word poetry contest, its SPARK and IGNITE summer camps, and Amplify, a singing competition.

Announced in late 2016, the Motown Museum expansion will grow the museum to a 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education tourist destination featuring dynamic, interactive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studios, an expanded retail experience and meeting spaces designed by renown architects and exhibit designers. When completed, the new museum campus will have a transformative impact on the surrounding Detroit neighborhoods, providing employment, sustainability and community pride by serving as an important catalyst for new investment and tourism in the historic area.

For more information on Motown Museum, including hours of operation, visit http://www.motownmuseum.org.

This article originally appeared in the Michigan Chronicle.

AJ Williams Michigan Chronicle City.Life.Style. Editor

Posts by AJ Williams Michigan Chronicle City.Life.Style. Editor

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Black History

Betty Harris: Inventor of Spot Test That Revolutionized Chemical Detection

Our accomplishments never cease to amaze me. Imagine being a scientist who can detect hidden chemicals with just a simple test. Here’s another hidden gem. Dr. Betty Harris is a brilliant scientist and inventor known for her work in chemistry. She was born on July 29, 1940, in Louisiana. From a young age, Betty was fascinated by science. She loved to learn how things worked and always asked lots of questions. Her passion for science led her to become a chemist.

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Dr. Betty Harris

By Tamara Shiloh

Our accomplishments never cease to amaze me. Imagine being a scientist who can detect hidden chemicals with just a simple test. Here’s another hidden gem.

Dr. Betty Harris is a brilliant scientist and inventor known for her work in chemistry. She was born on July 29, 1940, in Louisiana. From a young age, Betty was fascinated by science. She loved to learn how things worked and always asked lots of questions. Her passion for science led her to become a chemist.

By 1961, aged just 19, she had graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge with a chemistry degree.

She did her research at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, where she worked in the areas of hazardous waste treatment and environmental remediation as well as explosives chemistry. Areas of focus included explosives detection, synthesis and characterization of insensitive high explosives and sensitivity of weathered high explosives.

Her invention, a spot test for TATB, represents a significant advancement in the detection of this crucial but stable explosive compound.

TATB stands for 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene. It’s a type of explosive that is very stable and safe to handle, making it important for various safety applications. TATB is used in explosives because it doesn’t explode easily under heat or shock, which means it’s safer to store and use.

Harris invented a special test called a “spot test” to detect TATB. Before her invention, finding TATB in materials was difficult and time-consuming. Her spot test made it quick and easy to detect this important chemical.

The spot test developed by Harris is a simple yet powerful method that involves a few straightforward steps. A small sample of the material in question is obtained. The sample is treated with a special chemical solution formulated by Harris. If TATB is present in the sample, the solution undergoes a color change, providing a clear and immediate indication of its presence.

Harris’s spot test is important for several reasons. The test helps ensure that explosives are safe to handle and store. By detecting TATB quickly, accidents can be prevented. It is easy to use and provides fast results, saving time and resources.

Inventions like Harris’s help science to progress by making it easier to work with important chemicals.

Her contributions extend beyond her scientific achievements. She is a passionate advocate for education and has been a mentor to countless young scientists, particularly encouraging girls and African American students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.

Her dedication to fostering the next generation of scientists has earned her numerous accolades and respect in the academic community.

Harris still lives in New Mexico.