 | Did you know that the possible boycott of the 2016 Academy Awards and the hashtag #oscarssowhite have links to America’s greatest poet, Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request)? Emmett Lee Dickinson knew many disappointments in his life. One of his greatest setbacks came in 1835 after he had applied for a patent for a corn planter only to find out he’d been beaten by a year by inventor Henry Blair. Blair had received the patent for his corn planter in 1834. Although Dickinson was disappointed, he did go on to invent many other devices and develop many other innovations (information HERE). However, he also made it known that he was extremely disturbed with a practice of the American Academy of Copyrights and Patents to deny patents to minority inventors only to award them later to white inventors who came in with similar ideas and inventions. One case in particular – involving the prolific 19th-century inventor Oscar S. Sowhite (pictured at the left) – was the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back” for Dickinson. |
Sowhite had invented a groundbreaking casket lid and pump that guaranteed an air-tight seal on a coffin – “to guarantee freshness,” said Sowhite. However, the Academy refused to award him the patent. Instead, they presented it many months later to Tobias Audlin Tupper (who later went on to invent a food storage system called “Tupperware”).
 Above: Oscar S. Sowhite's design for the "Seal-Tite Casket Lid & Pump." Sowhite did not receive a patent for his invention. Click the image to enlarge. |  Above: After Tobias Tupper received the patent for the "seal-tite lid," his company developed many new models of caskets. Click the image to enlarge. |
Dickinson was infuriated by the Academy’s snub, and the incident led him to write his now classic poem “Why – do they shut me out of Honor” (below on the left). Dickinson’s poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem “Why – do they shut me out of Heaven” (below on the right).
| By Emmett Lee Dickinson: Why – do they shut Me out of Honor? Did I act – too proud? But – they can’t say my work is “Minor” Though it’s disavowed! Won’t the Academy try me Just – once – more – Just – see – my accomplishments – And not – shut the door! Oh, if I – were the Gentleman In the “White Robe” – Then they – would extend a Hand – that braced – Could – I – not soar? | By Emily Dickinson: Why – do they shut Me out of Heaven? Did I sing – too loud? But – I can say a little "Minor" Timid as a Bird! Wouldn't the Angels try me – Just – once – more – Just – see – if I troubled them – But don't – shut the door! Oh, if I – were the Gentleman In the "White Robe" – And they – were the little Hand – that knocked – Could – I – forbid? |
By the way, Henry Blair – the inventor who edged out Dickinson for the patent on the corn planter – was an African-American. Dickinson was not upset by that because Blair beat him “fair and square” to the patent office. Instead, Dickinson was disappointed in himself for taking so long to develop his own version of the corn planter.
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