Book Review: Driving While Black

During the days of the horse and buggy the ability to travel was limited for everyone simply because it took too much time to go any great distance. The train helped, giving those who could afford to do so the ability to travel beyond their own surroundings. However, for African-Americans neither option afforded much of an opportunity for travel. Horse and buggy left African-Americans exposed to all sorts of dangers, especially in the south. Riding a train left African-Americans exposed to a number of Jim Crow Laws and various attitudes which could make travel down right unpleasant. This would all change when the car became something that the average person could afford. Car ownership opened the door to travel for many blacks and in Driving While Black Gretchen Sorin tells us the story of how being able to take road trips changed African-American culture while helping drive the civil rights movement forward.

I have mixed feelings about Driving While Black. The information, a mix of historical record and anecdotal evidence, is very interesting, revealing a part of our history which for the most part remains buried. Even with my family background, and with knowing some of what my past relatives faced, there is a lot that I learned from reading this book. However, there is something about the writing that caused me to struggle when it came to focusing on what I was reading. It doesn’t quite read like a textbook but there was just something that I can’t pinpoint that didn’t allow me to read for longer than a few minutes at a time. As a result I cannot give a full endorsement of this book.

If you enjoy history, this book is one you should consider reading. If you want a perspective that the majority of history books are unable to give, this is definitely a book you should read. If you read only for entertainment this might not be the right choice. I can only give one thumb up for this book, recommending it for those who truly enjoy history and for those who are open to walking (or riding) in another person’s shoes.

Driving While Black by Gretchen Soring, Published by Liveright Publishing Corporation

Why Do We Need Black History Month?

It wound up being my favorite class in college: a history course that I took just to get a few easy credits. The teacher stepped into the class on the first day and said something that forever changed my perspective on the study of history. He started by saying that he did not expect us to memorize a bunch of dates leading to a collective sigh of relief that was audible throughout the classroom. He then explained that he wanted us to be able to answer one simple question about everything we would learn that semester. How does each event affect our lives today? From that point on I’ve asked this question whenever I studied our history.

As I sit here in my home in Pennsylvania I’m overwhelmed by the number of people and events that have shaped the world and that set the stage for how the culture in which I am immersed functions today. And yet, as I look back on all of my years in grade school I realize there were so many names and events that were missed for one reason or another during all of those history classes. And the biggest omission of them all were the many contributions made by black men and women: contributions that our approved history books almost completely overlooked.

Why do we need Black History Month? I honestly wish that we didn’t need it. I wish that the text books did a better job of telling the story of how blacks and other minorities did important things so that we all can ask how their actions affect us today. But alas, with a few exceptions, those contributions are left out, leaving us with the need for a month designed to remind us not to leave people out.

Book Reviewed: The Golden 13

 Prior to World War II the Navy’s record when it came to race relations was…well…dismal. Opportunities for blacks within the service were very limited in part due to a major written report that warned of what might happen if African-Americans were allowed to serve onboard a Navy vessel alongside a white crew. These attitudes were a reflection of what was going on in the nation outside of the service. So as the nation fought for freedom overseas, blacks were not afforded the same here at home.

The Golden 13 describes a major change within the Navy. Under pressure to change, this branch of the military would create a test program in which 13 men would become the Navy’s first black officers. Based in part on personal interviews, this book tells why these men joined the service in the first place and describes what they faced as they worked their way up the ranks. Dan C. Goldberg gives us a good mix of historical background along with the personal stories of these men, leaving the reader with a view of what was at stake and why these men were the right group to face the challenge.

The Golden 13 is well written and fun to read. The writing is unbiased, a simple telling of a story that should not be forgotten. The narrative covers a topic that must be acknowledged as we cannot run away from the fact that racism is a part of our history and in some areas is still an issue today. But in acknowledging the problem we must also acknowledge situations where people of both races worked towards change. This book is a record of just such a situation, revealing a major step towards this nation fulfilling its promise.

I give The Golden 13 two thumbs up, recommending it to anyone who enjoys history and to those who are interested in learning about where the United States used to be and how we got to where we are today.

The Golden 13: How Black Men Won The Right to Wear Navy Gold by Dan C. Goldberg. Published by Beacon Press Books.

What Do Your Actions Reveal About Your Faith?

There they were, enjoying the view from their campsite along the shores of the Red Sea. But then something drew their attention to the opposite direction where Pharoah and the armies of Egypt were in hot pursuit. The people of Israel were understandably frightened and initially they cried out to the LORD (Exodus 14:10). Unfortunately what they did next was completely wrong and their actions revealed what they really believed about their God.

Instead of waiting for an answer from God, the people turned on Moses, their leader, accusing him of leading them to their deaths. They reminded Moses of how they had asked him to leave them alone in their bondage. At this point they were afraid and all they could see was the large and powerful army bearing down on their camp. Out of fear they forgot that their God was on their side and that He is able to deliver His people out of any negative situation.

Their actions revealed that they did not fully trust God. Faith in the LORD would have looked something like Moses’ response in verses 13 and 14 where he speaks of deliverance and of the LORD fighting on their behalf. He believed that God had a way out. They simply needed to wait and trust in Him. Moses’ response of faith was in direct contrast to the lack of faith demonstrated by the people.

How would you have responded? How do you respond today when life’s troubles pursue and threaten to overtake you? As Christians we know that we should call upon the Lord but how do you respond after you say the word amen? What do your actions reveal about your faith in our Heavenly Father?

God Delights In Mercy, Even in the Old Testament

It’s a conversation I’ve had many times and it usually starts with the statement, “The God of the Old Testament seems so different from the God of the New Testament.” The person making this statement usually goes on to talk about how God seems so judgmental and harsh in the Old Testament and so forgiving in the New Testament. They point to times when people died for sinning against God, like in 2 Samuel 6:6-8 when Uzzah touched the ark and was immediately struck down. Even David was a little ticked off about that one. While it’s a little confusing to say that the God who forgives would do such a thing, the fact is that it is the same God. Therefore, we must reconcile these acts of judgment with the forgiveness that is found throughout the New Testament, lest we misunderstand the true nature of our God.

Who is a God like You,

Pardoning iniquity

And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He delights in mercy.

Micah 7:18 (NKJV)

Micah believed that the God of his time (in the Old Testament) was a God who forgave sins. Micah describes God as one who “delights in mercy.” Other translations use the words “Grace,” “steadfast love” and “loving-kindness,” Some even use both “mercy” and “loving-kindness” together. In Micah’s eyes the God of the Old Testament was more like what we think of about the God of the New Testament.

Keep in mind that Micah wrote this after prophesying of the judgment which was to fall upon Judah and Israel (Micah chapters 1-3), so the prophet was not overlooking the fact that God at times will unleash His anger upon those who sin against Him. But Micah also understood the fact that God is a just God and that the people of his nation had earned their sentence of death because of their iniquities. That being said, Micah trusted that God would have compassion and would cast their sins into the sea (verse 19).

Micah’s God was the God of the Old Testament. His God was also a God of mercy and compassion who loves His people and forgives them of their sins. This same Old Testament God gave His Son as a sacrifice for our sins because He loved the world (John 3:16) and while at times it may be difficult to accept, God has not changed. He is Lord in every book of the Bible. He was a God of mercy in the Old Testament and He is a God of mercy in the New Testament. And right now He wants to show you how much He loves and cares about you.

Book Review: Blessed By The Best

Blessed By The Best is a must read for any fan of the Philadelphia Eagles and suggested reading for all NFL fans, giving a glimpse into the life of Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins. The full title of the book is Blessed By The Best, My Journey to Canton and Beyond and it is written by Michael Bradley who worked with Brian Dawkins to put together an inspiring book about overcoming physical circumstances as well as emotional turmoil. The book reads as if Dawkins is in the room with you, telling you his life story.

From a writing standpoint this book almost seems as if it is unedited, as if a recording of Dawkins was transcribed word for word. I think this adds to the charm of the book as I really felt that I got to know the character of the man who spent 235 pages telling me about himself, his family, his teammates and most of all about his God. This makes it a fun read which left me looking forward to what Dawkins will do with the rest of his post football life.

I give Blessed By The Best two thumbs up, recommending it for sports fans and for anyone who needs the inspiration of learning from someone who overcame a number of obstacles. I also recommend it for anyone who wants to learn about one man’s spiritual journey, delivered with honesty about his ups and downs as he continues to learn to trust in God.

Blessed By The Best: My Journey To Canton and Beyond by Brian Dawkins with Michael Bradley. Published by Camino Books, Inc. Philadelphia

Joe Gilliam: The First Black Starting QB in the NFL

They made history. Jalen Hurts of the Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs were the two starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl LVII making it the first time that both starting QBs were black. This was something I heard quite a few times leading up to the game and every time I heard an analyst mention that fact I thought of one name: Joe Gilliam.

In 1972 the Pittsburgh Steelers used the 273rd pick to draft Joe Gilliam who, during his college career at Tennessee State, passed for 5,213 yards and 50 touchdowns. While under center he helped his team win two Black College National Championships and his performances earned him induction into the Black College Football Hall of Fame. His on the field play and off the field popularity would earn him the nickname “Jefferson Street Joe,” given to him by one of the school’s coaches (in reference to one of the roads near campus, according to ESPN.com).

Even with his success in college the odds were against Gilliam playing quarterback in the NFL. Back then black college quarterbacks were generally converted to wide receiver however the Steelers, and head coach Chuck Knoll, decided to keep Gilliam at the quarterback position where he served as backup to Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw.

When the players went on strike in July of 1974 Bradshaw walked the picket line while Gilliam, and many other players around the league, chose to report for preseason training camp. Bradshaw’s absence opened the door for Coach Knoll to start Gilliam and Jefferson Street Joe took full advantage as the Steelers finished the preseason as the only unbeaten team with six wins. His success earned Gilliam the right to start on opening day against the Baltimore Colts. While I’m sure this was controversial, it does not seem as if it was done as a political statement. According to several sources, (including an article on CBSSports.com), Chuck Knoll believed that Gilliam was the best choice and he was not the only one who believed this (more on that later).

There had been other black quarterbacks who started professional football games like Marlin Briscoe who started for the Denver Broncos in 1968 but that was in the AFL before the merger which wasn’t official until 1970. Joe Gilliam was the first black to start at quarterback in the NFL but being first brought with it a certain amount of backlash. Based on the hate mail Gilliam received, it seems NFL fans were not ready to see a black man under center. Still, he would lead the team to a 4-1-1 record before being replaced by Bradshaw who would finish the season by leading the team to a win in Super Bowl IX. Unfortunately, after being benched Gilliam’s life took a turn for the worse, marked by substance abuse and homelessness (according to ESPN.com). He would eventually have to pawn his two Super Bowl rings (both from his time with the Steelers) in order to make ends meet (according to ESPN.com).

I first heard of Joe Gilliam from my uncle who played quarterback for a semi-pro team in Gary Indiana. He spoke of how Joe Gilliam was a better quarterback than Terry Bradshaw, something Bradshaw himself has publicly stated (as reported by CBSSports.com). This led to my first understanding of how blacks were seen in football and in sports: athletic but not smart enough. Knowing this I celebrated when Doug Williams led the Redskins to victory in Super Bowl XXII. I was also proud to see Hurts and Mahomes in this year’s Super Bowl, although I wish the score had gone the other way.

It seems weird to say that in my lifetime the idea of a black quarterback was in general something that was rejected by the league and by fans. I’m glad to see this kind of thinking go out the window as we debate whether or not a black quarterback might one day be crowned the GOAT.

For more on Joe Gilliam see his listing on the Black College Hall of Fame website: https://www.blackcollegefootballhof.org/inductees/joe-gilliam

For the ESPN.com cited in this post:Gilliam had 'given his life to God'  https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2000/1229/982102.html

For the CBSSports.com article cited in this post: Remember When: Joe Gilliam takes Terry Bradshaw's starting QB job https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/remember-when-joe-gilliam-takes-terry-bradshaws-starting-qb-job/

Paul Salata, The Founder of Mr. Irrelevant

On the road to Super Bowl LVII the Eagles faced the San Francisco 49ers with one of the season’s biggest surprises at QB. Brock Purdy, their third string quarterback, took the field late in the season and delivered in every game until he suffered an injury in the NFC Championship. I’m not sure what is in store for Purdy in the future but his success this season got me thinking about past Mr. Irrelevants and their success (or lack thereof) on the football field. In checking the names of past players I came across a very important name that I did not know: Paul Salata, the person who came up with the idea of celebrating Mr. Irrelevant.

For those who don’t know, Mr. Irrelevant is the nickname given to the very last person picked in the NFL draft each year. Paul Salata came up with the idea in order to recognize the hard work that even the last player selected had to do in order to reach that point in their career. Mr. Salata pitched the idea to the NFL and in 1976 Kelvin Kirk, a wide receiver drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, became the first official Mr. Irrelevant. I’ll have more on Kelvin Kirk in a later post but for now let's just say that Kirk thought that someone was playing a joke on him. But this was not a joke. Mr. Salata invited Kirk out to California for a celebration and which would become an annual rite of passage for every Mr. Irrelevant since that time.

According to his obituary in the NY Times, Paul Salata was the second son of two Serbian immigrants (Chetko and Melania Salata). He played football and baseball at USC, playing on the team that won the 1948 College World Series. He also played one year of minor league baseball. While at USC he played wide receiver before joining the Army Air Corps where he served during World War II. During his college career Salata caught a touchdown in the 1945 Rose Bowl in which USC beat Tennessee by a score of 25-0 according to ESPN.com.

Mr. Salata’s NFL career was short, playing 23 games for three teams: The San Francisco 49ers, The Baltimore Colts and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also made appearances in a few movies, including an uncredited role in The Ten Commandments. In addition to his NFL career Salata played two seasons in the Canadian Football League where he was an All Star in the 1952 season according to ESPN.com. After completing his football and acting careers, Salata went into construction work and, after creating the honor, would get to announce the name of Mr. Irrelevant in person at the draft until 2013. After turning this job over to his daughter, Paul Salata lived until October 16, 2021 when he died of natural causes at the age of 94.

Paul Salata’s legacy continues today with the annual celebration of Mr. Irrelevant and the awarding of the Lowsman Trophy which is similar to the Heisman Trophy except that it depicts a player fumbling the football. The weeklong celebration includes a banquet in which Mr. Irrelevant joins the club of those who preceded him. The group that runs the Mr. Irrelevant celebrations also does fundraising and has donated over $1 million to charities according to their website. I believe this is a fitting tribute both to the hard work of the players who otherwise would be mostly forgotten and to the son of two immigrants who thought it important to recognize these men.

For more on Irrelevant Week see their website: https://mrirrelevant.org/

For Paul Salat’s obituary in the NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/24/sports/football/paul-salata-dead.html

Also mentioned in this post ESPN.com https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32412948/paul-salata-creator-mr-irrelevant-award-dies-94

What took more faith? Facing A Bear, A Lion or Goliath?

I’m guessing most of you have heard the story of David and Goliath, where a young farm boy takes down a giant veteran soldier armed only with a slingshot (1 Samuel 17). Imagine facing Goliath whose height was well above average for their time (somewhere between 6’9” and 11’ depending on which “expert” you choose to listen to). His coat of mail weighed 125lbs and the total weight of all of his armor and weapons is around 200lbs. He was battle tested and we know he was scary as none of the soldiers of Israel wanted to face him. Goliath was a big bad dude and I imagine it took quite a bit of faith in God for David to face him. But did it take as much faith as it did for David to face a lion or a bear?

Think about it. Goliath was third in line as by that point David had already faced at least one lion and at least one bear. Would you be willing to walk up to a lion or a bear and tell it to give back your lamb? David snatched the lamb from the predators’ mouths. In both cases the animals responded by rising up to attack. At that point I would have given the lamb back and gone home to change my pants. David grabbed the animals by their chins and killed them. The Bible does not tell us what David used to kill the bear or the lion, but I’m guessing it wasn’t a spear. He struck the animals with something one would use at close range. That’s what I call faith.

Is your faith in God at a level where you can face a lion or a bear or Goliath? Is your faith in God at a level where you can deal with whatever giant and fierce problem you're facing right now? Keep in mind, David did not say God made the bear or the lion or Goliath disappear. He had to face his problems and he did so trusting that God would give him what he needed to win. David testifies that as he was able to face the lion and the bear, he knew God would deliver the Philistine into his hands. Trust in the Lord and know that He will do the same with whatever stands in your way.

Honor MLK By Voting

MLK Day! I remember the battle leading up to 1983 when Congress passed the legislation that made the third Monday of January a federal holiday recognizing the life and contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You may be surprised to find out that back then I was not 100% on board with the move to make this a holiday. I was young and impressionable, buying into something someone said about Dr. King not wanting a holiday because it would mean a day when young children of color were missing out on their education. I’ve changed my mind since then, recognizing that it’s not about if he would want a holiday. It’s about him deserving a holiday and deserving the recognition and honor he earned as one of the leaders of the civil rights movement.

Since January 20, 1986, the very first MLK national holiday, the third Monday in January has become known in many parts of the country as a day of service. It is a day when communities can come together and when the individual can serve his/her neighbor: a day when we hopefully make our towns a little bit better. I think this is something that would make Dr. King smile. However, after the day of service I believe there is something else each of us needs to do: become an informed voter and then cast your ballot.

When watching the news I keep hearing about laws that have passed and attempts to pass other laws which in one way shape or form are designed to control how we each cast our ballots in future elections. I’m not here to take sides or to judge these various laws. I am here to say get out and vote no matter what. Make up your mind right now that no restriction will keep you from voting. No matter your race or your political leanings, become informed about the candidates and the issues. Then, go out and exercise your Constitutional right. When you do so you will help make this a better nation and you will honor MLK by making sure that his work, when it comes to the right to vote, was not done in vain.

Are Christians Innocent and What Happened on the Cross?

The cross: Christianity's most recognizable symbol. Believers look upon it and are reminded of the gift of salvation offered to all and received by those who believe. But the people of Rome likely saw something else. Back then crosses stood in public places for all to see and for passersby the cross made one single declaration. It was Rome's way of announcing that a person had been tried and found guilty as charged. But who is really guilty when it comes to the cross of Jesus Christ? To answer that question we must look at what really happened upon that cross.

To best understand what happened on the cross of Jesus Christ we need only look at what happened to Barabbas. Barabbas had been found guilty of taking part in a rebellion during which someone was murdered. He and his co-conspirators were being kept on Rome's version of death row when Pontus Pilate offered to turn loose one prisoner. Pilate offered the people a choice between releasing Barabbas or releasing Jesus. The people chose Barabbas. As a result, the guilty went free leaving the innocent to die in his place.

The Bible says that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). We are all guilty of violating our creator's moral standard. As a result we all have been sentenced but not all will receive the punishment we have earned. Our creator has made a choice. As a result you and I have the opportunity to go free. In our place we leave behind the innocent who served our sentence. Like Barabbas we can go free knowing that Jesus, the Son of God, suffered a punishment that was meant for us.

So what really happened at the cross? An innocent man, a man who never sinned, died and the guilty went free. Who was guilty? Who really deserves to be punished? Barnabbas was guilty. I am guilty. You are guilty. We all have been found guilty. And yes Christians were found guilty as charged. Fortunately our Judge chose to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as payment for our sins. By faith we can choose to agree with God that we are guilty and that because of what happened on that cross, our sins are fully forgiven and completely washed away.

150 Years Since the Birth of Standard Oil

January 10, 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of the Standard Oil Company. Growing up I knew very little about the company’s founder, John D. Rockefeller. I had heard of the Rockefeller name and knew that they were a very rich family but, apart from the chapter in social studies covering anti-trusts laws and monopolies, I did not understand the impact Rockefeller’s company had and has on my life on a daily basis. I knew of Standard gas stations and of the large refinery near the city where I was born but who was Rockefeller and what made his company so influential?

According to Britannica.com John Davison Rockefeller (born July 8, 1839) was the oldest of six children. His father, William (Big Bill) Avery Rockefeller was a traveling “physician” and “snake-oil salesman.” I think that is the first time I have read a biography where someone was described as a snake-oil salesman. I’ve seen them in movies and on television, I have even read about them in books, but it seems funny to read that a person actually made a living selling various “remedies” while moving from city to city. According to History.com William Rockefeller (a.k.a. Dr. Livingston) carried a large jug of “medicine” which he claimed could cure anything, assuming the patient was willing to part with enough cash.

In her expose of Standard Oil journalist Ida Tarbell discovered William Rockefeller’s questionable past which included a criminal indictment and allegations of him spending long periods of time away from home and from his family. When he was home it seems he spent a lot of time counting his money as once  described by his oldest son. And while it seems John D. Rockefeller spent most of his life trying to hide his father’s misdeeds, he did not shy away from the idea of building a business centered around cutting the most beneficial deals possible. His business acumen would lead to the creation of the Standard Oil Company, which at its peak controlled most of the world’s oil production (according to Encyclopedia Britannica).

Rockefeller started off dealing in agricultural goods. But in the 1860’s he took note of the growing oil industry in Pennsylvania. Eventually he and his business partners would build Cleveland’s largest oil refinery, joining the refinery to other related businesses to form the Standard Oil Company in 1870. By merging with other companies and with a lot of help from the railroads, Standard would grow and eventually control 90 % of the nation’s oil production.

The company’s growth was also aided by the fact that people were turning to kerosene in order to light lamps which once had been fueled by things like whale oil. Standard Oil created a new way to refine oil allowing the company to use oil found in Ohio which was considered too thick to be worth processing. The company’s large Whiting Indiana refinery began using the new process around 1889 meeting the new demand. The process (called thermal cracking according to The American Oil & Gas Historical Society) produced high quality kerosene along with a highly combustible byproduct called gasoline.

Growing up in Northwestern Indiana I remember hearing about the Standard Oil refinery, which often made the news for good and sometimes negative reasons. I even remember us occasionally driving by the refinery’s oil storage tanks with the large red and blue Standard Oil insignia on the side. What I did not know was how the Whiting Indiana refinery’s thermal cracking helped build Standard Oil into a huge monopoly aided by business practices such as negotiating huge rebates from the railroads. With lower transport costs and profits from refining cheaper sour crude Standard was often able to squeeze competitors out of the market. Standard Oil, the company started in Ohio in 1870 grew into an oil giant with controlling interests in a number of related companies. Most likely Standard would still control the oil industry today, if not for a bill proposed by a senator from the company’s own backyard.

In 1890 U.S. Senator John Sherman of Ohio proposed what would become the Sherman Antitrust Act, designed to encourage economic competition by regulating the ability of any company or group of companies to concentrate power over an industry. In 1892 Standard was found to be in violation of antitrust laws in Ohio but was able to restructure becoming the Standard Oil Trust of New Jersey. For years Standard Oil would maneuver and reshape in order to avoid litigation over its control of the oil industry. But in 1909 the justice department filed a federal lawsuit leading to a 1911 judgment which ordered the company to break up, leading to 34 independent companies. I still remember when I first noticed that all of the Standard gas stations where I lived had become Amoco stations seemingly overnight. Remnants of Rockefeller’s oil monopoly are still around today in companies such as ExxonMoble and BP but the one time giant no longer exists.

Rockefeller would outlive his oil monopoly, spending the latter part of his life donating his fortune. This he did in accordance with his belief that he should make as much money as he could in order to give it away. According to a number of sources John D. Rockefeller was a devout Baptist and it was as a teen attending church with his mother that he learned this principle of earning and giving. From the age of 16 until his death Rockefeller gave, believing his ability to earn money to be a God given gift. With this gift he lived to fulfill his belief in the principle spelled out in Luke 6:38.

That old Standard Oil refinery I knew of as a kid is now a BP refinery. And though the names have changed and some have merged, much of the old Standard Oil which Rockefeller helped start 150 years ago still has a huge influence on the oil and gasoline we use daily. The Rockefeller foundation continues its mission of “Promoting the well-being of humanity throughout the world,’ something it has attempted to do since 1913. It’s co-founder passed on May 23, 1937 but his wealth and legacy, both through his philanthropy and in triggering the establishment of antitrust laws, continue their influence on the world long after the signing of that initial Standard Oil charter 150 years ago.

The U-505: A WWII Trophy and A Can’t Miss Tour

As a teen I always enjoyed visiting the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. During both family bonding time and school field trips, I was always amazed at how much there was to see even though I was afraid that the statue pillars near the front door might one day come after me. Of all there was to see in the museum my favorite attraction was and is the U-505, a captured German U-boat on exhibit inside of the museum. I wish I could have been there this past June 4th to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the capture of U-505 by a U.S. battle fleet during World War II.

Before 1944 the United States had not captured any enemy ship since the war of 1812. With German U-boats terrorizing shipping across the Atlantic, the best any country could do was damage or perhaps sink one. These ships were quite successful in cutting off shipping lanes and the German naval command hoped to use them to cut off supplies to England, turning the U-boats into a great threat to that country’s survival.

The U-505 was a type IXc submarine. This class of submarine was large and built for long range use. She was fitted with two sets of engines: battery driven electric motors for use underwater and diesel engines for when she moved along the surface. She began service under real battle conditions in 1942, seeing some success while also being labeled a ‘Hard-luck ship.’

I remember standing in line to see the U-505. Back then they did not have timed entry so we stood in a very long queue, winding our way past various objects from the museum’s WWII collection. Though it seemed like we were in line for an eternity, it was cool to be able to sit on top of a torpedo or two as the line slowly moved forward. With so many great artifacts, and a movie about the sub’s capture, the build up to seeing the ship was almost as cool as seeing the ship itself.

The museum moved the ship inside back in 2004. According to the museum’s website, a German submarine was only built to last for four years. In 1997, after more than fifty years of exposure to weather the U-505 needed repair. The museum decided that the best way to preserve the U-505 was to move the entire sub indoors, which must have been a monumental task. Having moved away from the area back in the 1980’s, I was not able to see it in its new enclosure until 2018. Boy was it a treat being able to stand beside her, coming face to face with all 252 feet of her hull. No longer did I have

to look out of a window while standing in line, I could stand right next to her imagining the fear U boats must have inspired while in water.

I vaguely remember references to her hard-luck status during tours when I was a child but it didn’t really sink in as to why people spoke of the U-505 in this way. While she started off with a successful run, things seemed to have taken a negative turn starting with her inadvertent attack on a sailing ship. As told by Hans Goebeler (a member of the U-505 crew) and reported by John P. Vanzo for the July 1997 issue of World War II Magazine, the captain of the U-505 ordered a shot across the bow of a sailing ship that was zig-zagging across the water. But instead of serving as a warning, the shot hit the sailboat’s main mast. The U-505 went on to sink what turned about to be a ship owned by a Colombian diplomat. With that Colombia declared war on Germany and the U-505’s captain was transferred out of command.

The U-505’s second captain took his own life during a battle. The ship itself suffered many problems due to sabotage by the shipyard workers whose job it was to maintain the sub (according to Vanzo’s article). Workers used tactics such as leaving the ship with leaky fuel tanks so that she left a trail of diesel fuel upon the water. Some of her welds were sub-par, said to have been weakened by pieces of rope. The success of these attempts at sabotage, along with other less than stellar outcomes during her missions, helped establish the U-505’s reputation as unlucky even before she was captured by U.S. Hunter-Killer Task Group 22.3.

On June 4, 1944 the U-505 rose to periscope depth only to find herself surrounded by the hunter-killer task group. The crew tried to submerge but were unable to get away as the task group’s depth charges drove her back to the surface. The crew abandoned ship, attempting to scuttle the U-505 to prevent her being captured. However soldiers from the U.S. task group were able to board and prevent her from sinking, stabilizing the sub so she could be secretly towed away. The U.S. did not want Germany to know they had captured the U-boat, allowing them time to learn as many of her secrets as they could. And now she reveals those secrets to tourists, like a former Midwesterner who in 2018 got to enjoy taking his sons to see one of his childhood favorites.

If you’re in Chicago I recommend the Museum of Science and Industry, and the tour of the U-505. Both are well worth the price of admission, as are a number of other exhibits such as the working coal mine. My family and I did not make it to the coal mine this time around. That will have to wait until our next trip to Chicago.

For more on the U-505:
The Museum of Science and Industry Home Page
https://www.msichicago.org/

Story of moving the U-505 inside

https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/exhibits/u-505-submarine/exhibit/restoration-relocation/conserving-the-u-505/

Crewman Hans Goebeler shares his memories of the U-505

https://www.historynet.com/german-submarine-u-505-crewmember-hans-goebeler-recalls-being-captured-during-world-war-ii.htm

Mary Miles and the Doctrine of Separate But Equal

I saw this sign while walking to the train station from work one afternoon. It is located on a bridge overlooking a set of train tracks near Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station. At first glance the sign looked like one of the many historical markers found throughout the region but something seemed odd about the sign. While I could not figure out what was wrong with the sign I did stop to read what it said. From it I learned of Mary Miles, a name from history whose story seemed important. This was enough for me to do a little research where I found a woman whose legacy might have matched that of Rosa Parks if not for the fact that Miles’ fight contributed to one of the great wrongs from the history of the United States.

In 1866 Mary Miles’ journey to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court started innocently enough with a train ride to her home in Hinsonville Pa. Hinsonville was a community of free blacks, where Miles lived while applying for a teaching position with a Quaker group called the Friends Freedmen’s Association (According to a report on mainlinetoday.com). Traveling back to Hinsonville from Philadelphia Mary took a seat on the West Chester & Philadelphia Railroad. Like Parks, Miles was asked to get up. A representative from the railroad confronted Mary Miles suggesting she either move to the section of the train car designated for “...persons of her race” or get off of the train. (Swarthmore College Bulletin). Eventually Mary was left at one of the train stations along the line.

A year later Mary Miles sued the railroad in a Philadelphia court. The court decided against the railroad on the basis that skin color was not a valid reason to force someone to change seats. Mary was awarded $5 but would see the verdict overturned on appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. In that case the court ruled that the railroad could ask someone to move on the basis of race as long as the person was offered a seat that was equal to the seat they were being forced to leave. This case would later be cited in the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Plessy vs. Ferguson where the court said that segregation was constitutional.

Unfortunately not only did Mary Miles lose her case but in part her actions helped move the country into decades of court sanctioned segregation under the idea of “separate but equal” accommodations. This wrong would continue from 1896 until Brown vs. The Board of Education was decided in 1954. Ms. Miles' courageous stand was, for those 58 years, lost behind an outcome which lives as one of many negatives when it comes to race relations in this country.

Though the outcome was not what she intended, Mary Miles should be remembered for taking a stand. Yet, there was still something about that sign that just seemed out of place. Not until passing it several times did I realize that the sign was held up using plastic zip ties. This was odd even for a city that seems to pride itself on oddities. Fortunately, my research for this post led me to the answer behind the zip tied sign.

Turns out the sign honoring Mary Miles was not installed by the city. It is the creation of Ali Roseberry-Polier, a local author and activist, who wanted others to know about Mary Miles. Hence the use of zip ties holding the sign up. Unfortunately the sign is beginning to fall apart, having survived a year where it seemed as if it rained every four days here in Philly. It may also have fallen prey to someone whose motives were less than honorable. Hopefully one day Mary Miles can get a more permanent sign. Until then I’ll join in telling others about Mary Miles’ ill fated attempt to undo separate but equal before it became law.

(Update: Unfortunately the makeshift sign is no longer hanging near 30th Street Station, having finally succumb to the elements.)

How Curt Flood Changed Major League Baseball

Curt Flood 1965

Spring Training starts in less than two weeks. Pitchers and Catchers from my two favorite teams report on February 13th (Phillies in the National League; White Sox in the American League). Both teams (and their fans) find themselves in the hunt (more accurately the waiting game) for the top two free agents available this offseason. As we wait I thought we could look back at one of the turning points in the history of Major League Baseball, a time when the financial structure of the game was forever altered. Let’s go back in time to the 1970’s and the event that brought both arbitration and free agency to the game of baseball.

Prior to the 1970's teams controlled player movement with the use of player reserve clauses. Under these clauses a player could not change teams unless he was traded or released. The team held the rights to the player even after the end of his contract forcing him to negotiate with his current team or retire.

In 1969 the St. Louis Cardinals traded center fielder Curt Flood along with Tim McCarver, Byron Browne and Joe Hoerner, to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dick Allen, Cookie Rojas and Jerry Johnson. Flood refused to report to the Phillies for a number of reasons, but mostly because he did not want to be treated as a piece of property. After the commissioner refused his appeal, Flood took his case to the courts eventual losing in a 5-3 Supreme Court decision. The court ruled that baseball was a sport, not a business. As such the league was exempt from the antitrust law on which Flood's case rested.

Though a loss for Flood, his case set in motion major changes for Major League Baseball. On February 25, 1973 the league and the MLB Players Union signed off on their third Collective Bargaining Agreement. Included among the changes in the agreement was an option for any player with at least two years in the league to go to salary arbitration if unable to reach terms on a new contract. This was included as a direct result of the Flood court case as owners feared the players might one day win the right to free agency.

The first player to go to arbitration was Dick Woodson, a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. The Twins offered $23,000 but Woodson wanted $29,000. He won his case. Between 1974 and 2012 there were 500 arbitration cases in baseball with the owners winning 57% of them. (according to the MLB players website)

A few years later during another player’s arbitration hearing, players were granted the right to free agency. Today arbitration is an important part of settling salary disputes between players and teams, allowing the two to go to a neutral party to help settle disputes. For owners this means avoiding the chaos they feared would happen if the players were given outright free agency. For players arbitration affords an opportunity to make sure contracts are based on performance and not on the fact that teams can restrict player movement.

The court case cost Curt Flood his career. His sacrifice lead to both arbitration and free agency. As a result players have seen salaries rise over the last few decades. And as we sit and wait for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to sign on the dotted line, know that if not for Curt Flood we would have no free agents and no opportunity for our favorite teams to sign big name players.

Book Review: 7 Women and the Secret of Their Greatness

In my review of "7 Men" I spoke of how the book was "...an introduction to people we may think we already know." I have a confession. While I knew a little about the men, I knew next to nothing about the women whose lives are detailed in "7 Women and the Secret of Their Greatness." As a result just about every fact and every facet of their lives was new to me as Eric Metaxas once again delivers on his promise of challenging our definition of what makes a person great.

Like their counterparts in the previous book these are people who followed their convictions. In so doing they withstood trials that might have crushed many men. They saved lives, restored kingdoms and helped restore dignity to those who were helpless. Their life stories inspire and just might make you question what you are doing with your time here on earth.

With its bite sized biographies "7 Women" is good for many different audiences, including those who normally avoid nonfiction. Metaxas gives us a wealth of details with a delivery that is entertaining though at times a bit uneven. (One or two of the biographies seem to shift to another style in a way that feels sort of like a speed bump.) Still this is a good read and a great introduction to some of history's most impressive but perhaps overlooked people. I highly recommend "7 Women," a book that will change your perspective of women while challenging us all to give our best during our time here on earth.

Book Review: 7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness

I knew I would like this book by the second paragraph of its introduction, which I found hard to put down. In describing the goal of his book, Eric Metaxas promises something different: a book of biographies written to challenge our current definitions of “What is a man?” and “What makes a man great?” Metaxas tells us the stories of seven great men (eight if you count his mention of the Duke in the introduction). In the process he delivers on his promise, asking the reader to see masculinity through a different pair of glasses.

As promised in its title, this book is an introduction to greatness. It is a reminder that by developing and following the right convictions people (men in this book, women in the companion book which I am reading next) have achieved great things. Each of these men are known for the impact they had on the human story. What is often overlooked is how the faith which was at the core of their beings lead them in a lifetime of making the world a better place. They did not set out to be great. They set out to follow their callings. By reading their stories we are encouraged to follow their examples.

With enough facts to feed those who love reading biographies and yet light enough to entertain those who normally run from non-fiction, “7 Men” is a book that I recommend for all types of readers. While the target audience appears to be people of faith, as well as those seeking to find lives that were changed by their faith, this is at its core an introduction to people we may think we already know. I give two thumbs up with an exclamation mark to “7 Men,” a book that both informs and enriches the lives of its readers.

Eric Metaxas’ web page: http://ericmetaxas.com/

7 Men: http://ericmetaxas.com/books/7-men/

Book Review: The Bully Pulpit

They were best friends. Then politics got in the way. Drawing from numerous personal accounts Doris Kearns Goodwin takes us inside the White House and into the relationship shared by Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. We see how, with support from the press and a new form of reporting called "muck raking," the two men worked to change the course of our nation only to see a bitter political campaign leave them and their political party deeply divided. For those who love history The Bully Pulpit is a treasure trove of stories, delivering an up close and personal view of the two men and of the establishments of government and of the press.

I suspect Goodwin might spend a little too much time in the weeds for all but the biggest fans of U.S. history and/or fans of old style storytelling. As a narrative The Bully Pulpit is as much about character development as it is about history. Facts are delivered in a context that helps the reader get to know the people involved in taking us to the historical outcome. As a result The Bully Pulpit tells a true story without becoming a textbook. That being said, The Bully Pulpit is a very long book, best suited for patient readers who enjoy giving a story time to unfold.

Both educational and entertaining, I recommend this book to anyone who loves history. It's size and depth make it a book that can't be rushed but with Goodwin's very detailed research this book is full of historical treasures waiting to be unearth. I give The Bully Pulpit a very high recommendation for those who love history and for those who enjoy a well developed story line. Overall it's a solid one and a half thumbs up for a book that will change how you see Roosevelt, Taft, and the relationship between the White House and the press.

The Bully Pulpit available at Barnes and Noble

For information on Doris Kearns Goodwin

Did We Elect A Moses or A Pharaoh?

Is President Trump ordained by God? Among his supporters are a number of Christians who believe, or at least claim to believe, that Trump is the man God wanted behind the Oval Office desk. And while we may debate the theological significance, the simple fact is Donald J. Trump did win the election. Personally I think the question of who God wants in office is not nearly as important as the question of, “Why?” Why is Trump sitting in the Oval Office?

I ask this thinking of two very different leaders introduced near the beginning of the Book of Exodus. First we have Moses. From his birth to his adoption by Pharaoh's daughter to his burning bush experience, we are left with no doubts as to the fact that Moses was destined to be a hero. Exodus tells us how he answered God’s call and lead the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. Moses stood as a chosen leader, and intercessor between God and the people. No one doubts Moses’ role in Exodus but did Pharaoh serve an equal role in revealing God’s glory?

In his role as leader of Egypt Pharaoh was seen as being closer to the gods than any other man. He believed himself in a position where he did not have to listen to anyone (man or god). He refused Moses’ requests, questioning the authority of Moses’ God (Exodus 5:2). Pharaoh is the bad guy in Exodus, seemingly standing in the way of the will of God. And yet the Bible tells us that Pharaoh’s role was part of a bigger plan, appointed by God to serve a purpose as we learn in the ninth chapter.

In Exodus 9 God sends Moses to confront Pharaoh before the seventh plague. God declares that He raised up Pharaoh, putting him in a position of authority that he might serve to help demonstrate God’s power (Exodus 9:16). Each plague represented God’s power over areas thought to be under the control of one of Pharaoh’s idols. With each defeat God’s power was revealed. As a result the confrontation between Pharaoh and God resulted in the Lord’s name being declared in all the earth. This was the will of God and Pharaoh successfully played his role as evidenced when Israel reaches the wall of Jericho (Joshua 2:10).

Based on Romans 13:1 every world leader and every U.S. President was granted authority based on the will of God. This applies to President Trump as it did to President Obama before him. It was true of George W. Bush, William Blythe Clinton, and every president back to George Washington. All served God's purpose but not all were his children. The question in each case is, “What does God want to achieve?” Why is Donald Trump the current President of the United States? Is our current president serving a purpose similar to that of Moses or have we elected into office someone who will serve God in a similar fashion as did Pharaoh? Only time will tell. Either way the next four (or eight) years should be interesting.

The Obama Presidency: Only Now Can I Enjoy History

Picture By Pete Souza, The Obama-Biden Transition Project [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

I just couldn’t do it. In 2008, faced with the opportunity to join in making history, I could not bring myself to

vote on the basis of race. Instead I did what I would in any other presidential election. I took the time to read and study, voting for the candidate I thought would do the best job. Not that I was oblivious to the opportunity to change the face of the nation but I saw a lot more than history at stake. And so I could not vote based on the candidate’s race nor could I enjoy eight years of history while the White House was occupied by its first black first family.

Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to see a minority in the White House. At the same time I feared what might happen if the first black was the wrong black. The president lives under a very intense microscope with his every move examined and documented. I figured a black president would find the optics focused to a much higher intensity, facing scrutiny like none other before. A misstep here or an embarrassing gesture there and the entire race would have been labeled by those who believe  minorities lack what is needed to run the free world. And so in 2008 I looked for the right person for the job knowing that the first black, if he were not fit, would close the door on the possibility of another holding the office in the future.

With his two terms in office now behind us I can say that President Obama and his family exhibited a very high regard for the office, conducting themselves in a manner that serves as an example to anyone of any race. Did I agree with all of his actions? No, but I have yet to agree 100% with anyone. Even while disagreeing with the president I was able to respect the man. So now, in 2017, I can finally enjoy the historical aspects of having had our first black president. Only now can I celebrate knowing the Obamas have left us with a historical record for which the entire race...the entire country...can be proud.