The Breakfast Club - IDKMYDE: Invention That Revitalized Slavery

Episode Date: February 27, 2024

On this episode of #IDKMYDE, we're diving into some fascinating trivia. Did you know that the invention responsible for revitalizing chattel slavery in the United States was none other than the cotton gin? And who's behind this game-changing creation? Join us as we uncover more hidden gems in history and challenge our assumptions. IG: @_idkmyde_ | @BdahtTV | @blackeffectSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water,

500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zaka Stan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-A-S-T-A-N on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best, and you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing.

Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jack B. Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series,

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we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Listen to Black Lit on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. a science fair with my volcano project. That's amazing, sweetie. Congratulations. Because when people are fed, futures are nourished, and everyone deserves to live a full life. Join the movement to end hunger at feedingamerica.org slash act now. Brought to you by Feeding America and the Ad Council. On today's episode of I Didn't Know, maybe you didn't either. It's trivia time. Question.

What invention single-handedly revitalized chattel slavery in the United States? And who's responsible for its creation? You've got 30 seconds. If you said the cotton gin created by Eli Whitney, you're correct. See, the truth of the matter is in the late 1700s, slavery was phasing out. Folks weren't making no money off indigo. See, cotton was easy to grow in the South, but it was tough to process because you had to separate them sticky seeds from the fibers. Well, the cotton gin made that process oh so much easier.

Man, after the invention of the cotton gin, the need for raw cotton doubled each decade after 1800. I mean, it fueled other inventions. Machines to spin and weave the cotton. The steamboat to transport the cotton. By 1850, America was growing three quarters of the world's supply of cotton. And who were picking it all? Black folk. In 1790, cotton growing became so profitable that it increased the demand for land and enslaved labor.

In 1790, it was six slave states. By 1860, it was 15 slave states. Now60 it was 15 slave states now two strange things about Eli Whitney one why did I always think Eli Whitney was black he's not Eli Whitney is a white man from Massachusetts another interesting fact about Eli Whitney is despite having a patent the cotton gin didn't make him no bread I know know that had to make him hot. See, folks in the South, we just made and used counterfeit versions. And Eli Whitney spent most of his time in Southern courts fighting. And most times those courts sided with the local Southerners rather than some Yankee. Still have no clue why I always thought a black man invented the cotton gin.

Now, there are stories that say an enslaved person invented the cotton gin and Eli Whitney got the patent for it, but there's no proof of that. It is, however, no secret that black folks rarely had the capital or connections to get their things patented. So many times their masters would take the inventions and be rewarded with the patents. Then there were your black folks that got patents by making white inventions better or more practical. For example, South Carolina native Henry Ogden Holmes. He was black. He invented the salt tooth gin around 1792 when he and Eli Whitney were in Savannah, Georgia.

The light bulb. We all know that was invented by Thomas Edison. But the innovation to use longer lasting light bulbs with a carbon filament? That came from a black man, Louis Latimer. Look, if you're interested in more, you can check out the book Black Inventors of America by McKinley Burt Jr. Now, you won't see Eli Whitney in that book because he's white.

And I didn't know. Maybe you didn't either. I didn't know. Hey, guys. I'm't know. Maybe you didn't either. I didn't know. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going.

That's what my podcast, Post Run High High is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zaka-stan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you.

Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jacqueline Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. at the end of a busy day. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Listen to Black Lit on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The impact of a meal goes well beyond feeding our bodies, because feeling full can sound like this. How did the interview go?

I did it! I got the job! I can't believe it! And like this. Mom! I got first place at the science fair with my volcano project! That's amazing, sweetie. Congratulations!

Because when people are fed, futures are nourished, and everyone deserves to live a full life. Join the movement to end hunger at feedingamerica.org slash act now.

Brought to you by Feeding America and the Ad Council.