With February being Black History Month, Savannah welcomes the 22nd Annual Black Heritage Festival from February 1st - 13th. Of course, I want to be apart of all of Savannah's festivities, so I was eager to check out what the 2011 Black Heritage Festival had to offer.

Savannah Technical College sponsored and hosted the Traveling Black History Museum, part of the annual festival. On Thursday, February 3rd from 12PM-7PM, the Traveling Black History Museum is open to the public and FREE! It is a fabulous opportunity to see true African artifacts and learn more about the history of the Black race.

As I entered Savannah Technical College, I was bombarded by college students everywhere. Flashbacks of my college days started streaming in... Overwhelmed! Quickly, I realized I did not know where I was going and found the Administration Office to ask for guidance. (HINT: Ask for help, because unless you've been before, the auditorium is difficult to find.) After getting directions, I made two new friends who were also visiting the museum and we found the auditorium together.

The auditorium was filled with beautiful photographs, African artifacts, books, articles, and memorabilia of influential Black men, including current President Barack Obama. As I immediately began photographing my adventure, I was stopped by a lovely, lady dressed in African clothing. Her headdress was awesome! Then... she informed me that photography was not allowed; but not before I had snapped one shot.

The display was exceptional. It really allowed each of the visitors the opportunity to see each artifact and truly grasp the history of the items displayed. I saw images of all kinds: figurines, magazine articles, books, newspaper clippings, and even gut-wrenching photos. The display really helped me grasp the history of the Black heritage, and imagine some of what they went through. Most of the displays filled my thoughts with memories from prior history courses, yet still I learned new and impressive facts about the Black heritage.

My favorite part of the museum, was the middle display. The tables were covered with miscellaneous objects invented by Black men and women. Things that we see each and everyday, and take for granted. Here is a list of a few things I saw that were invented by Black men and women:
    Shoe polish
    Mason jars (and the process of jarring/preserving)
    Chess (the game originated in Africa)
    The Grandfather Clock
    Iron & ironing board
    Brooms & dust pans
    Air conditioner
    Baby carriage
    Egg beater
    Mosquito repellent
    and.......
    THE SUPER SOAKER!!!

(Please Note: The items listed above were portrayed to be invented by Black men and women, and we take no resposibility for accuracy.)

Of course, there are many, many other awesome inventions by Black men and women, and to find out (and see) more you should stop by! So much to see (since I could not photograph all of these fabulous things) you should take a bit of time and stop by some of the Black Heritage Festival. The Traveling Black History Museum was a great way to experience part of the 22nd Annual Black Heritage Festival. 

By: Brianne Baggett