U.S. Census Bureau Black History Month Feature for February 7

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily Black History Month feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7: JOSEPH LEE

Profile America for the seventh day of Black History Month.  A century ago, bread bought in stores was handmade, a time and labor intensive process.  That changed when an African-American food executive from Boston, Joseph Lee, invented an automatic bread-making machine.  This device mixed the ingredients and then kneaded the dough, dropping the cost of making bread while increasing production.  Lee also developed a machine to eliminate the waste of unsold bread by recycling the loaves into bread crumbs, which proved to be popular in restaurants the world over.  Today in the U.S., African-American families buy an average of $241 worth of bakery products annually.  This special edition of Profile America is a public service of the U.S. Census BureauMeasuring America:  People, Places and Our Economy. 

Sources:  www.blackinventor.com
Statistical Abstract of United States 2012, t. 686

Profile America Special Edition:  Black History Month  2012  is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov  (look for "Multimedia Gallery" by the "Newsroom" button). 

CONTACT:  Rick Reed of the U.S. Census Bureau, +1-301-763-2812, fax: +1-301-763-3762, richard.thomas.reed-at-census.gov

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau