Friday, February 24, 2012

Blood Work


   Doctor Charles Drew
   swam against the current
   when he first banked blood

   The Red Cross
   was at cross purposes
   with the  business of
   saving lives

   They forgot
   (or pretended not to know)
   that blood cells
   are red and white,
   not black and white

   The job at hand is to transfuse
   blood not bigotry



Dr. Charles R. Drew was an African-American doctor who developed methods for blood storage and transfusions in the 1930's.  He was an outstanding person in many areas, and well worth reading more about.  One place to start is The Black Inventor Museum.  And these 55 words about him are for G-Man.
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23 comments:

  1. Beth WinterFebruary 24, 2012 at 5:02 PM

    Wonderful, powerful wordplay and metaphors, Mary. I agree wholeheartedly.

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  2. The Thirteenth CrossingFebruary 24, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    I absolutely love this 55. Great read and so true.

    55 Flash Fiction Friday: I’m Late

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  3. G-ManFebruary 24, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    Mary Bach...
    Shame on you for posting this late.
    Because everyone needed to read this!!
    I love historical 55's
    Your's was one of today's best!
    Very very well written...
    Thanks for this little Gem, and have a Kick Ass Week-End

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  4. Yvonne OsborneFebruary 24, 2012 at 7:49 PM

    What a wonderful 55! This has been History Friday for me! Seldom is anything black and white. Thank you for a thoughtful and thought-provoking story.

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  5. Pat HattFebruary 24, 2012 at 8:43 PM

    Through grand history into your 55
    Never knew that at my hive

    ReplyDelete
  6. Brian MillerFebruary 24, 2012 at 9:47 PM

    nice...perfect for the month when we celebrate african american history...and to think of how we once viewed them...and what we would have missed...

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  7. Doctor FTSEFebruary 25, 2012 at 1:10 AM

    Well worth saying, Mary. And very well said.

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  8. ayalaFebruary 25, 2012 at 5:52 AM

    Nice, Mary. Thank you for adding the note.

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    Replies
    1. Other MaryFebruary 25, 2012 at 7:24 AM

      Thank you Ayala. I thought without that note might be helpful. He has a remarkable career, especially considering the times.

      Delete
  9. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2012 at 6:45 AM

    Cleverly constructed, Mary.. very much enjoyed the message. Red and white not black and white.. :)

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  10. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    Thanks for info and poem. Such a good 55.

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  11. AdamFebruary 25, 2012 at 11:53 AM

    cool fact I didn't know that

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  12. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2012 at 12:10 PM

    The title made me this of some period "art" work I saw in the city. It took me 10 minutes to figure out what they meant by period art work...it looked reddish, copper, a bit of brown...oh...nevermind.

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    Replies
    1. Other MaryFebruary 25, 2012 at 12:48 PM

      Oh yikes! hahaha, now that's what I call really putting yourself into your art!

      Delete
  13. James RainsfordFebruary 26, 2012 at 6:33 AM

    Sharp and so very true.

    ReplyDelete

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