MUSCAT, 5 April 2005 — Richard L. Baltimore is the first African-American ambassador to serve the Sultanate of Oman in 31 years. Currently, he is enjoying the distinction of bringing “Black Inventions Exhibition” for the first time outside the US.
“It is like a dream come true’’, the senior envoy told Arab News yesterday, while talking about the five-day exhibition going on in Muscat, showcasing over 100 authentic artifacts, including patent designs, personal letters, rare photographs and brief biographies of African-Americans known for their inventions in the 19th century in the fields of transportation, agriculture, communication, health and business.
Oman-US diplomatic ties date back to 1837, but it was in 1974 that the first American Embassy was opened in Muscat — a year after Oman opened its embassy in Washington.
It was three years ago that Baltimore was struck by the Black Inventions Exhibition at the College of New Rochelle, New York, his home town, and decided to export it outside to show what “is not just Black History, it’s American History.’’
It has taken Baltimore more than two years to bring the exhibition outside the US. “I love my roots, as does everybody else,” said the father of three daughters, acknowledging that he was enjoying the distinction of being the first African-American ambassador to Oman. He was the US consul general in Jeddah for three years before coming here in October 2002.
Baltimore said the exhibition holds “some personal significance’’ for him because one of his forefathers, J.D. Baltimore, an engineer-machinist, was an inventor.
“The inventors grew out of attempts to ease the toil of labor and in many cases to fuel the hopes of freedom from slavery and the dream of escape from poverty”, said the diplomat.
He said when one examines virtually any aspect of history, it is replete with contributions from African-American men and women from all levels of society and quoted some glaring instances.” Dr. Hale Williams performed the world’s first successful open heart surgery in 1893. Charles Henry Turner was the first researcher to prove that insects can hear. Dr. Charles Richard Drew established the world’s first blood bank. Norbert Rillieux patented a process to refine sugar that is still used by the industry, while Benjamin Bradley, a slave, designed a steam engine for a warship. Unable to obtain a patent, he purchased his own freedom with the proceeds.’’
Baltimore said the significance of this fascinating exhibition is that it reminds of the US diversity and the unique contributions that each ethnic and racial community has and continues to make to the country.” America has clearly benefitted from all the peoples that have landed on her shores.’’
