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African American Engineers in History: Pioneering Innovation Against the Odds
Author: Dr. Anika Washington, PhD in Engineering History, Professor of Engineering at Howard University
Publisher: The Institute for the History of Science & Technology (IHS), a leading publisher dedicated to disseminating research on the history of science and technology, with a specific focus on underrepresented groups.
Editor: Dr. James Carter, PhD in African American Studies, Associate Editor of The Journal of Black Engineering.
Keywords: African American engineers in history, Black engineers, African American engineering history, contributions of Black engineers, STEM diversity, historical figures in engineering, overcoming adversity, innovation, racial inequality.
Abstract: This narrative explores the remarkable contributions of African American engineers throughout history, highlighting their ingenuity, resilience, and unwavering dedication to their craft in the face of systemic racism and discrimination. Through personal anecdotes and detailed case studies, we examine the lives and achievements of these pioneers, showcasing their impact on various engineering fields and inspiring future generations of diverse engineers.
Early Pioneers: Breaking Barriers in a Segregated Society
The history of African American engineers is a testament to unwavering perseverance. Long before the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum, brilliant minds overcame almost insurmountable obstacles to pursue their passions. Consider the story of Madam C.J. Walker (though not strictly an engineer in the traditional sense), whose entrepreneurial spirit led to the development of innovative hair care products, requiring a degree of engineering prowess in manufacturing and distribution. Her success story underscores the entrepreneurial spirit that often accompanied early African American innovators who lacked formal engineering training. This inherent ingenuity often manifested in creating practical solutions within their communities.
The early to mid-20th century saw a slow but steady increase in African Americans gaining access to engineering education, though often restricted to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). These institutions, like Howard University and Tuskegee Institute, played a vital role in nurturing the talents of future African American engineers in history. These pioneers, often facing segregation and discrimination in professional settings, made significant contributions despite limited opportunities.
Post-War Advancements and the Rise of Notable Figures
Following World War II, opportunities for African Americans in engineering expanded, albeit slowly. The burgeoning aerospace industry, for example, offered some pathways, though often with limited advancement potential. Nevertheless, individuals like Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel to space, stands as an inspiring example. While an aerospace physician and not solely an engineer, her story exemplifies the extraordinary achievements attainable despite systematic barriers. Her dedication to STEM fields inspired countless young African Americans to pursue careers in engineering.
The personal story of Dr. Gladys West, a mathematician and computer scientist whose work was crucial to the development of GPS technology, highlights the often-unsung contributions of African American women in engineering. Her years of dedicated work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, painstakingly creating mathematical models, showcase the invaluable role of women, often overlooked in historical narratives of African American engineers in history. Her case serves as a powerful reminder of the numerous individuals whose contributions have been historically underrepresented.
Modern Achievements and the Fight for Equity
The latter half of the 20th century and the start of the 21st has witnessed a growing presence of African American engineers in diverse fields. However, the fight for equity continues. Despite progress, underrepresentation in leadership positions and the persistent existence of racial bias remain significant challenges. The narratives of contemporary African American engineers highlight the ongoing struggle for true equality and inclusivity within the profession.
Consider the case of Dr. Mark Dean, a significant figure in computer engineering, who holds three of IBM's original nine patents. His groundbreaking work on the personal computer illustrates the power and influence that African American engineers can wield in shaping technological advancements. His story serves as both an inspiration and a call to action: to dismantle systems that still create barriers for talented individuals based solely on their race.
Case Study: The Challenges and Triumphs of African American Women Engineers
Focusing specifically on the experience of African American women engineers offers a crucial lens through which to understand the systemic challenges and remarkable triumphs within the field. These women have consistently faced a double burden of racial and gender discrimination, making their accomplishments all the more remarkable. From overcoming societal expectations to navigating hostile work environments, their experiences highlight the need for continued efforts towards creating a truly inclusive and equitable engineering profession. Analyzing the careers of prominent female engineers and researchers allows us to examine the ways they overcame prejudice, mentored younger generations, and ultimately shaped the landscape of their respective fields.
Conclusion
The history of African American engineers in history is a complex narrative of resilience, innovation, and the ongoing fight for equal opportunity. From the early pioneers to modern-day achievers, these individuals have consistently demonstrated exceptional talent and determination in the face of adversity. Their stories serve as an inspiration to aspiring engineers of all backgrounds and highlight the crucial importance of diversity and inclusion in shaping a more equitable and innovative future. The continued recognition and celebration of their contributions is essential to fostering a more just and representative engineering profession. Their legacies demand that we acknowledge past injustices and actively work towards creating a future where talent, not race or gender, determines success.
FAQs
1. Who are some of the most influential African American engineers in history? Mae Jemison, Dr. Gladys West, Dr. Mark Dean, and numerous other pioneers at HBCUs are examples of influential figures.
2. What obstacles did African American engineers face historically? Segregation, limited access to education, discrimination in employment, and lack of mentorship were significant obstacles.
3. How did HBCUs contribute to the advancement of African American engineers? HBCUs provided critical educational opportunities and nurturing environments when mainstream institutions excluded Black students.
4. What are some current challenges facing African American engineers? Underrepresentation in leadership, racial bias, and the persistent wage gap remain ongoing concerns.
5. How can we promote diversity and inclusion in engineering? Mentorship programs, targeted outreach initiatives, and addressing systemic inequalities are crucial steps.
6. What is the importance of studying the history of African American engineers? Studying their history illuminates past injustices, celebrates achievements, and inspires future generations.
7. Are there any organizations dedicated to supporting African American engineers? Yes, several organizations work to promote diversity, mentorship, and professional development in engineering.
8. What are some resources for learning more about African American engineers? Books, documentaries, and online archives provide valuable information and resources.
9. How can I get involved in promoting diversity and inclusion in STEM fields? Participate in mentorship programs, advocate for equitable policies, and support organizations dedicated to diversity in STEM.
Related Articles:
1. "Mae Jemison: A Legacy of Firsts": A biography exploring the life and career of the first African American woman in space, highlighting her engineering background and broader contributions to STEM.
2. "The Untold Story of Dr. Gladys West": A detailed account of Dr. West's groundbreaking work in mathematics and its vital role in the development of GPS technology.
3. "HBCUs and the Cultivation of Black Engineering Talent": An exploration of the historical role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in training and supporting African American engineers.
4. "Overcoming the Odds: The Experiences of African American Women in Engineering": A collection of personal narratives illustrating the challenges and triumphs faced by African American women in the field.
5. "The Impact of Segregation on African American Engineering Development": An analysis of how segregation and discriminatory practices limited opportunities for African American engineers.
6. "Modern-Day Role Models: Profiles of Leading African American Engineers": Showcasing the achievements of contemporary African American engineers in various fields.
7. "The Fight for Equity: Addressing Racial Bias in Engineering": A discussion of ongoing efforts to combat racial bias and promote equality in engineering workplaces.
8. "Mentorship and Support: Building a Stronger Community for African American Engineers": Exploring the crucial role of mentorship in supporting and advancing the careers of African American engineers.
9. "The Future of Diversity in Engineering: Strategies for Inclusive Growth": An examination of long-term strategies for creating a truly diverse and inclusive engineering profession.
| african american engineers in history: Changing the Face of Engineering John Brooks Slaughter, Yu Tao, Willie Pearson Jr., 2015-12-15 How can academic institutions, corporations, and policymakers foster African American participation and advancement in engineering? For much of America’s history, African Americans were discouraged or aggressively prevented from becoming scientists and engineers. Those who did enter STEM fields found that their inventions and discoveries were often neither recognized nor valued. Even today, particularly in the field of engineering, the participation of African American men and women is shockingly low, and some evidence indicates that the situation might be getting worse. In Changing the Face of Engineering, twenty-four eminent scholars address the underrepresentation of African Americans in engineering from a wide variety of disciplinary and professional perspectives while proposing workable classroom solutions and public policy initiatives. They combine robust statistical analyses with personal narratives of African American engineers and STEM instructors who, by taking evidenced-based approaches, have found success in graduating African American engineers. Changing the Face of Engineering argues that the continued underrepresentation of African Americans in engineering impairs the ability of the United States to compete successfully in the global marketplace. This volume will be of interest to STEM scholars and students, as well as policymakers, corporations, and higher education institutions. |
| african american engineers in history: Race, Rigor, and Selectivity in U. S. Engineering Amy E. Slaton, 2010-06-01 Despite the educational and professional advances made by minorities in recent decades, African Americans remain woefully underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering. Even at its peak, in 2000, African American representation in engineering careers reached only 5.7 percent, while blacks made up 15 percent of the U.S. population. Some forty-five years after the Civil Rights Act sought to eliminate racial differences in education and employment, what do we make of an occupational pattern that perpetually follows the lines of race? Race, Rigor, and Selectivity in U.S. Engineering pursues this question and its ramifications through historical case studies. Focusing on engineering programs in three settings--in Maryland, Illinois, and Texas, from the 1940s through the 1990s--Amy E. Slaton examines efforts to expand black opportunities in engineering as well as obstacles to those reforms. Her study reveals aspects of admissions criteria and curricular emphases that work against proportionate black involvement in many engineering programs. Slaton exposes the negative impact of conservative ideologies in engineering, and of specific institutional processes--ideas and practices that are as limiting for the field of engineering as they are for the goal of greater racial parity in the profession. |
| african american engineers in history: Technology and the African-American Experience Bruce Sinclair, 2004 The intersection of race and technology: blackcreativity and the economic and social functions of the myth ofdisengenuity. |
| african american engineers in history: A Hammer in Their Hands Carroll Pursell, 2006-08-11 Scholars working at the intersection of African-American history and the history of technology are redefining the idea of technology to include the work of the skilled artisan and the ingenuity of the self-taught inventor. Although denied access through most of American history to many new technologies and to the privileged education of the engineer, African-Americans have been engaged with a range of technologies, as makers and as users, since the colonial era. A Hammer in Their Hands (the title comes from the famous song about John Henry, the steel-driving man who beat the steam drill) collects newspaper and magazine articles, advertisements for runaway slaves, letters, folklore, excerpts from biography and fiction, legal patents, protest pamphlets, and other primary sources to document the technological achievements of African-Americans. Included in this rich and varied collection are a letter from Cotton Mather describing an early method of smallpox inoculation brought from Africa by a slave; selections from Frederick Douglass's autobiography and Uncle Tom's Cabin; the Confederate Patent Act, which barred slaves from holding patents; articles from 1904 by Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. DuBois, debating the issue of industrial education for African-Americans; a 1924 article from Negro World, Automobiles and Jim Crow Regulations; a photograph of an all-black World War II combat squadron; and a 1998 presidential executive order on environmental justice. A Hammer in Their Hands and its companion volume of essays, Technology and the African-American Experience (MIT Press, 2004) will be essential references in an emerging area of study. |
| african american engineers in history: Black Pioneers of Science and Invention Louis Haber, 1991 Traces the lives of fourteen black scientists and inventors who have made significant contributions in the various fields of science and industry. |
| african american engineers in history: Black Software Charlton D. McIlwain, 2020 Black Software, for the first time, chronicles the long relationship between African Americans, computing technology, and the Internet. Through new archival sources and the voices of many of those who lived and made this history, the book centralizes African Americans' role in the Internet's creation and evolution, illuminating both the limits and possibilities for using digital technology to push for racial justice in the United States and across the globe. |
| african american engineers in history: We Could Not Fail Richard Paul, Steven Moss, 2015-05-01 The Space Age began just as the struggle for civil rights forced Americans to confront the long and bitter legacy of slavery, discrimination, and violence against African Americans. Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson utilized the space program as an agent for social change, using federal equal employment opportunity laws to open workplaces at NASA and NASA contractors to African Americans while creating thousands of research and technology jobs in the Deep South to ameliorate poverty. We Could Not Fail tells the inspiring, largely unknown story of how shooting for the stars helped to overcome segregation on earth. Richard Paul and Steven Moss profile ten pioneer African American space workers whose stories illustrate the role NASA and the space program played in promoting civil rights. They recount how these technicians, mathematicians, engineers, and an astronaut candidate surmounted barriers to move, in some cases literally, from the cotton fields to the launching pad. The authors vividly describe what it was like to be the sole African American in a NASA work group and how these brave and determined men also helped to transform Southern society by integrating colleges, patenting new inventions, holding elective office, and reviving and governing defunct towns. Adding new names to the roster of civil rights heroes and a new chapter to the story of space exploration, We Could Not Fail demonstrates how African Americans broke the color barrier by competing successfully at the highest level of American intellectual and technological achievement. |
| african american engineers in history: Black Wings William J. Powell, 1934 |
| african american engineers in history: Aerospace Engineer Aprille Ericsson Laura Hamilton Waxman, 2015 An uplifting portrait of a leading NASA engineer describes her childhood ambition to pursue a life in science, her achievement as her university's first woman to receive a Ph.D. in her field and her pivotal role in building history-making spacecraft.--Publsiher's description. |
| african american engineers in history: Making Black Scientists Marybeth Gasman, Nguyen Thai-Huy, 2019-08-13 Americans have access to some of the best science education in the world, but too often black students are excluded from these opportunities. This essential book by leading voices in the field of education reform offers an inspiring vision of how America’s universities can guide a new generation of African Americans to success in science. Educators, research scientists, and college administrators have all called for a new commitment to diversity in the sciences, but most universities struggle to truly support black students in these fields. Historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are different, though. Marybeth Gasman, widely celebrated as an education-reform visionary, and Thai-Huy Nguyen show that many HBCUs have proven adept at helping their students achieve in the sciences. There is a lot we can learn from these exemplary schools. Gasman and Nguyen explore ten innovative schools that have increased the number of black students studying science and improved those students’ performance. Educators on these campuses have a keen sense of their students’ backgrounds and circumstances, familiarity that helps their science departments avoid the high rates of attrition that plague departments elsewhere. The most effective science programs at HBCUs emphasize teaching when considering whom to hire and promote, encourage students to collaborate rather than compete, and offer more opportunities for black students to find role models among both professors and peers. Making Black Scientists reveals the secrets to these institutions’ striking successes and shows how other colleges and universities can follow their lead. The result is a bold new agenda for institutions that want to better serve African American students. |
| african american engineers in history: The World War II Black Regiment that Built the Alaska Military Highway William E. Griggs, 2002 A photographic record of a black regiment's contribution to safeguarding Alaska from Japanese invasion |
| african american engineers in history: Doing Engineering Joyce Tang, 2000-01-12 The first to systematically compare Caucasians, African Americans, and Asian Americans in engineering, this study of the career attainment and mobility of engineers in the United States tells how these three groups fare in the American engineering labor market and what they can look forward to in the future. The numbers of black and Asian engineers recently have grown at a much faster rate than the number of Caucasian engineers. With a projected steady increase in engineering jobs and demographic shifts, this trend should continue. Yet, recent writings on the engineering profession have said little about career mobility beyond graduation. This book identifies and explores key issues determining whether minorities in the US will attain occupational equality with their Caucasian counterparts. Highlighting implications for theory, policy making, and the future of the profession, Doing Engineering offers important insights into labor, race and ethnicity that will be of interest to anyone studying stratification in a wide range of professional occupations. |
| african american engineers in history: Gary and the Great Inventors Akura Marshall, 2018-11-07 Gary is a city kid who is intrigued by innovation. He discovers inventors and their inventions everyday with the help of his family, friends and community. |
| african american engineers in history: Black Inventors Keith Holmes, 2012-05 Black Inventors, Crafting Over 200 Years of Success, highlights the work of Black inventors from over seventy countries. The author, Keith C. Holmes, has spent more than twenty years researching Black inventors from countries that include Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, St. Vincent, South Africa, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom and the United States. Without inventions, innovations, financial resources, materials, muscle and labor saving devices, civilizations cannot exist and flourish. This book documents a number of inventions, patents and labor saving devices conceived by Black inventors. Among many other inventions, pre-enslaved Africans, developed agricultural tools, building materials, medicinal herbs, cloth and weapons. Although historical documents emphasize that millions of Black people arrived in Canada, the Caribbean, Central and South America and the United States under slavery's yoke, it is relatively unknown that thousands of Africans and their descendants developed numerous labor-saving devices and inventions that spawned companies which generated money and jobs, worldwide. While most authors focus primarily on American and European inventors, Keith Holmes introduces inventions, both past and present, that Black people, developed and patented globally and multiculturally.Black Inventors, Crafting Over 200 Years of Success, also features early Black inventors from virtually every state in the US. It includes details about the first Black inventor who obtained a patent in both the Caribbean and the United States. To date, seventeen African American men have been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Two inventors, Jan E, Matzeliger, (Suriname) and Elijah McCoy, (Colchester, Canada) were not born in this countryThe material available in this book, one of the first to address the diversity of black inventors and their inventions from a global perspective, effectively gives the reader, researcher, librarian, student, and teacher the materials they need to understand that the Black inventor is not only a national phenomenon, but also a global giant. |
| african american engineers in history: 101 Black Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics L. A. Amber, 2020-01-14 Instant Best Seller in STEM EducationBeyond a Black History book, this book will spark curiosity and motivate children, as well as adults to learn more about STEM related topics while making them proud of their heritage. Black Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics honors incredible and inspiring black women who pushed past the bounds of human knowledge and broke down the thought barriers of their and our time. We have selected 101 of the most extraordinary black women across all the sciences from the 1800s to today. We celebrate these black leaders from the past through today who paved the way for future generations of black women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Spotlighting their stories is about more than just augmenting black history. It's about understanding the cultural attitudes, historical forces, and social realities that made science what it is today-and what it will be tomorrow. If just one of these women had gotten fed up and quit, as others do, the history of science would have been poorer for it. Children shouldn't grow up thinking that STEM learning means boring textbook reading. Instead, this book will get them excited about science through fun and motivational stories. Our main goal is to introduce STEM-related concepts and present STEM-associated careers in an inspiring and entertaining way. We have included within the stories STEM concepts and definitions in order to enrich understanding, but we have left other concepts for your child to discover on their own or to engage adults in conversation about. We hope this will improve discussion and quality time between parents and kids. At the end of the book, we have included an exploration journal for children to describe their learning experience. We feel that any kid, teenager, or adult would benefit from this book, no matter their gender, race, or age. |
| african american engineers in history: Think Black Clyde W. Ford, 2019-09-17 “Powerful memoir. . .Ford’s thought-provoking narrative tells the story of African-American pride and perseverance.” –Publisher’s Weekly (Starred) “A masterful storyteller, Ford interweaves his personal story with the backdrop of the social movements unfolding at that time, providing a revealing insider’s view of the tech industry. . . simultaneously informative and entertaining. . . A powerful, engrossing look at race and technology.” –Kirkus Review (Starred) In this thought-provoking and heartbreaking memoir, an award-winning writer tells the story of his father, John Stanley Ford, the first black software engineer at IBM, revealing how racism insidiously affected his father’s view of himself and their relationship. In 1947, Thomas J. Watson set out to find the best and brightest minds for IBM. At City College he met young accounting student John Stanley Ford and hired him to become IBM’s first black software engineer. But not all of the company’s white employees refused to accept a black colleague and did everything in their power to humiliate, subvert, and undermine Ford. Yet Ford would not quit. Viewing the job as the opportunity of a lifetime, he comported himself with dignity and professionalism, and relied on his community and his street smarts to succeed. He did not know that his hiring was meant to distract from IBM’s dubious business practices, including its involvement in the Holocaust, eugenics, and apartheid. While Ford remained at IBM, it came at great emotional cost to himself and his family, especially his son Clyde. Overlooked for promotions he deserved, the embittered Ford began blaming his fate on his skin color and the notion that darker-skinned people like him were less intelligent and less capable—beliefs that painfully divided him and Clyde, who followed him to IBM two decades later. From his first day of work—with his wide-lapelled suit, bright red turtleneck, and huge afro—Clyde made clear he was different. Only IBM hadn’t changed. As he, too, experienced the same institutional racism, Clyde began to better understand the subtle yet daring ways his father had fought back. |
| african american engineers in history: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , 2008 Product Description: This illustrated book highlights the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' history from the battle of Bunker Hill to the war on terrorism; an introduction to aspects and events in engineer history. The Corps has a wealth of visual information--drawings, artwork, photographs, maps, plans, models--and this book contains a montage of historical images from the Revolutionary War to the present, in addition to many newly written articles. This new history also features an extensive index to aid in finding a specific subject, and researchers and interested individuals can be sure that they will find a solid historical perspective. |
| african american engineers in history: Black History in the Last Frontier Ian C. Hartman, 2020 |
| african american engineers in history: Blacks in Science Ivan Van Sertima, 1983 Providing an overview of the lost sciences of Africa and of contributions that blacks have made to modern American science, Blacks in Science presents a range of new information from Africanists. The book also includes bibliographical guides that are crucial to further research and teaching. The lineaments of a lost science are now emerging and we can glimpse some of the once buried reefs of this remarkable civilization. A lot more remains to be revealed. But enough has been found in the past few years to make it quite clear that the finest heart of the African world receded into the shadow while its broken bones were put on spectacular display. The image of the African, therefore, has been built up so far upon his lowest common denominator. In the new vision of the ancestor, we need to turn our eyes away from the periphery of the primitive to the more dynamic source of genius in the heartland of the African world. -- Ivan Van Sertima |
| african american engineers in history: She Engineers Stephanie Slocum, 2018-01-19 Career success guide for female engineers. |
| african american engineers in history: The Fourth Industrial Revolution Klaus Schwab, 2017-01-03 World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolution, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wearable sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manufacturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individuals. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frameworks that advance progress. |
| african american engineers in history: Black, Brown, Bruised Ebony Omotola McGee, 2021-02-01 2022 PROSE Award Finalist Drawing on narratives from hundreds of Black, Latinx, and Indigenous individuals, Ebony Omotola McGee examines the experiences of underrepresented racially minoritized students and faculty members who have succeeded in STEM. Based on this extensive research, McGee advocates for structural and institutional changes to address racial discrimination, stereotyping, and hostile environments in an effort to make the field more inclusive. Black, Brown, Bruised reveals the challenges that underrepresented racially minoritized students confront in order to succeed in these exclusive, usually all-White, academic and professional realms. The book provides searing accounts of racism inscribed on campus, in the lab, and on the job, and portrays learning and work environments as arenas rife with racial stereotyping, conscious and unconscious bias, and micro-aggressions. As a result, many students experience the effects of a racial battle fatigue—physical and mental exhaustion borne of their hostile learning and work environments—leading them to abandon STEM fields entirely. McGee offers policies and practices that must be implemented to ensure that STEM education and employment become more inclusive including internships, mentoring opportunities, and curricular offerings. Such structural changes are imperative if we are to reverse the negative effects of racialized STEM and unlock the potential of all students to drive technological innovation and power the economy. |
| african american engineers in history: Inspiring African-American Inventors Jeff C. Young, 2009-04-01 Presents the lives and accomplishments of nine African American inventors whose inventions changed the world, including Howard Latimer, George Washington Carver, and Madam C.J. Walker. |
| african american engineers in history: Overnight Code Paige Bowers, David Montague, 2021-01-12 Overnight Code is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration to overcome social barriers and to shatter glass ceilings. —Carolyn Porter, Marcel's Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man's Fate The inspiring story of a groundbreaking African American female engineer who created the first computer-designed ship for the US Navy Raye Montague was an ambitious little girl in segregated Little Rock. She grew to be a woman who spent a lifetime educating herself, both inside and outside of the classroom, so that she could become the person and professional she aspired to be. Where some saw roadblocks, Montague only saw hurdles that needed to be overcome. Her mindset helped her become the first person to draft a Naval ship design by computer, using a program she worked late nights to debug. She did this as a single mother during the height of the Cold War, all the while imbuing her son with the hard-won wisdom she had accumulated throughout the years. Equal parts coming-of-age tale, civil rights history, and reflection on the power of education, Overnight Code is a tale about persistence and perseverance when the odds against you seem insurmountable. |
| african american engineers in history: Black on Red Robert Robinson, Jonathan Slevin, 1988 Robert Robinson (1907?-1994) was a Jamaican-born toolmaker who worked in the auto industry in the United States. At the age of 23, he was recruited to work in the Soviet Union, where he spent 44 years after the government refused to give him an exit visa for return. Starting with a one-year contract by Russians to work in the Soviet Union, he twice renewed his contract. He became trapped by the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II and the government's refusal to give him an exit visa. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering during the war. He finally left the Soviet Union in 1974 on an approved trip to Uganda, where he asked for and was given asylum. He married an African-American professor working there. He finally gained re-entry to the United States in 1976, and gained attention for his accounts of his 44 years in the Soviet Union.--Wikipedia. |
| african american engineers in history: Sisters in Science Diann Jordan, 2006 Author Diann Jordan took a journey to find out what inspired and daunted black women in their desire to become scientists in America. Letting 18 prominent black women scientists talk for themselves, Sisters in Science becomes an oral history stretching across decades and disciplines and desires. From Yvonne Clark, the first black woman to be awarded a B.S. in mechanical engineering to Georgia Dunston, a microbiologist who is researching the genetic code for her race, to Shirley Jackson, whose aspiration led to the presidency of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jordan has created a significant record of women who persevered to become firsts in many of their fields. It all began for Jordan when she was asked to give a presentation on black women scientists. She found little information and little help. After almost nine years of work, the stories of black women scientists can finally be told. |
| african american engineers in history: Advancing Women in Science Willie Pearson, Jr., Lisa M. Frehill, Connie L. McNeely, 2015-04-23 Many countries have implemented policies to increase the number and quality of scientific researchers as a means to foster innovation and spur economic development and progress. To that end, grounded in a view of women as a rich, yet underutilized knowledge and labor resource, a great deal of recent attention has focused on encouraging women to pursue education and careers in science — even in countries with longstanding dominant patriarchal regimes. Yet, overall, science remains an area in which girls and women are persistently disadvantaged. This book addresses that situation. It bridges the gap between individual- and societal-level perspectives on women in science in a search for systematic solutions to the challenge of building an inclusive and productive scientific workforce capable of creating the innovation needed for economic growth and societal wellbeing. This book examines both the role of gender as an organizing principle of social life and the relative position of women scientists within national and international labor markets. Weaving together and engaging research on globalization, the social organization of science, and gendered societal relations as key social forces, this book addresses critical issues affecting women’s contributions and participation in science. Also, while considering women’s representation in science as a whole, examinations of women in the chemical sciences, computing, mathematics and statistics are offered as examples to provide insights into how differing disciplinary cultures, functional tasks and socio-historical conditions can affect the advancement of women in science relative to important variations in educational and occupational realities. Edited by three social scientists recognized for their expertise in science and technology policy, education, workforce participation, and stratification, this book includes contributions from an intellectually diverse group of international scholars and analysts and features compelling cases and initiatives from around the world, with implications for research, industry practice, education and policy development. |
| african american engineers in history: African-American Astronauts Stanley P. Jones, L. Octavia Tripp, 1998 Briefly describes the lives and accomplishments of five African-American astronauts: Guion Bluford, Charles Bolden, Frederick Gregory, Bernard Harris, and Mae Jemison. |
| african american engineers in history: Nothing But Praise: A History of the 1321st Engineer General Service Regiment , 2010-01-11 EP-870-1-69. By Aldo H. Bagnulo. Edited by Michael J. Brodhead. Provides a history of the 1321st regiment, an African American regiment which served in Europe during World War Ii. Includes many black and white photographs. Item 0338-B. |
| african american engineers in history: Sweet Taste of Liberty W. Caleb McDaniel, 2019-08-07 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History The unforgettable saga of one enslaved woman's fight for justice--and reparations Born into slavery, Henrietta Wood was taken to Cincinnati and legally freed in 1848. In 1853, a Kentucky deputy sheriff named Zebulon Ward colluded with Wood's employer, abducted her, and sold her back into bondage. She remained enslaved throughout the Civil War, giving birth to a son in Mississippi and never forgetting who had put her in this position. By 1869, Wood had obtained her freedom for a second time and returned to Cincinnati, where she sued Ward for damages in 1870. Astonishingly, after eight years of litigation, Wood won her case: in 1878, a Federal jury awarded her $2,500. The decision stuck on appeal. More important than the amount, though the largest ever awarded by an American court in restitution for slavery, was the fact that any money was awarded at all. By the time the case was decided, Ward had become a wealthy businessman and a pioneer of convict leasing in the South. Wood's son later became a prominent Chicago lawyer, and she went on to live until 1912. McDaniel's book is an epic tale of a black woman who survived slavery twice and who achieved more than merely a moral victory over one of her oppressors. Above all, Sweet Taste of Liberty is a portrait of an extraordinary individual as well as a searing reminder of the lessons of her story, which establish beyond question the connections between slavery and the prison system that rose in its place. |
| african american engineers in history: Begin with the Past Mabel O. Wilson, 2016-09-27 Rising on the National Mall next to the Washington Monument, the National Museum of African American History and Culture is a tiered bronze beacon inviting everyone to learn about the richness and diversity of the African American experience and how it helped shape this nation. Begin with the Past: Building the National Museum of African American History and Culture is the story of how this unparalleled museum found its place in the nation’s collective memory and on its public commons. Begin with the Past presents the long history of efforts to build a permanent place to collect, study, and present African American history and culture. In 2003 the museum was officially established at long last, yet the work of the museum was only just beginning. The book traces the appointment of the director, the selection of the site, and the process of conceiving, designing, and constructing a public monument to the achievements and contributions of African Americans. The careful selection of architects, designers, and engineers culminated in a museum that embodies African American sensibilities about space, form, and material and incorporates rich cultural symbols into the design of the building and its surrounding landscape. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a place for all Americans to understand our past and embrace our future, and this book is a testament to the inspiration and determination that went into creating this unique place. |
| african american engineers in history: Career Rehab Kanika Tolver, 2020-01-21 Ditch the Job for the Dream If you don't love what you do, then it's time to re-think your daily grind and renovate your career. It's time for Career Rehab. This book has the tools you need to go from the job you're in to the career—and the life—you want. Professional career and life coach Kanika Tolver helps you strip away the fear and doubt holding you back from living your best life and get down to the good bones of your resume so you can build your dream career. Tolver outlines simple yet innovative ways to brand, market, and sell yourself into jobs that promote work-life balance, fair compensation, and continuous career development. You'll learn how to: Brand yourself like a product Fearlessly, but softly, resign from a job Identify the right career path for yourself Enhance your professional happiness Leverage your personal passions and purpose in life This collection of research, success stories, interviews, and case studies will give you a better understanding of how you can find professional and personal bliss. The time is NOW to build your personal brand, network like a hustler, and get the pay you deserve. |
| african american engineers in history: Scientists, Mathematicians and Inventors Doris Simonis, 2019-11-04 Scientists, Mathematicians, and Inventors provides biographies of 200 men and women who changed the world by leaving lasting legacies in the fields of science, mathematics, and scientific invention. It fills a gap in the biographical reference shelf by offering far more than basic facts about a scientist's life and work: each entry describes not only the immediate effects of the individual's discoveries, but also his or her impact on later scientific findings. |
| african american engineers in history: The Pride of African American History Donald Wilson, Jane Y. Wilson, 2003 The true measure of a nation's worth in this great family of nations is proportionate to that nation's contribution to the welfare and happiness of the whole. Similarly, an individual is measured by the contributions he or she makes to the well being of the community in which he or she lives. If inventions therefore have played the important part here assigned to them in the gradual development of our complex national life, it becomes important to know what contributions the African American has made to the inventive skill of this country. In this book you will learn that the African American has contributed a disproportionate amount of creativity and resourcefulness on a list of more than 1100 U.S. Patents for inventions ranging from the propeller, the gas mask, air conditioning, pain relieving drugs, heart pace-maker controls and cellular phones to the elevator, rapid-fire guns, nuclear reactors and three-stage rockets. Throughout their long history, African Americans have created a rich, complex and highly diverse culture laced with outstanding role models who have helped make America the strongest country in the world. |
| african american engineers in history: What Color Is My World? Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 2012-03-13 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA's alltime leading scorer, champions a lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people’s pain? These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in this dynamic look at several unsung heroes who shared a desire to improve people’s lives. Offering profiles with fast facts on flaps and framed by a funny contemporary story featuring two feisty twins, here is a nod to the minds behind the gamma electric cell and the ice-cream scoop, improvements to traffic lights, open-heart surgery, and more — inventors whose ingenuity and perseverance against great odds made our world safer, better, and brighter. Back matter includes an authors’ note and sources. |
| african american engineers in history: Rising Above the Gathering Storm Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century: An Agenda for American Science and Technology, 2007-03-08 In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode. A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy: 1) Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education; 2) Sustain and strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research; 3) Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad; and 4) Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation. Some actions will involve changing existing laws, while others will require financial support that would come from reallocating existing budgets or increasing them. Rising Above the Gathering Storm will be of great interest to federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, public decision makers, research sponsors, regulatory analysts, and scholars. |
| african american engineers in history: The Inventive Spirit of African Americans Patricia Carter Sluby, 2004 In this important study, former United States primary patent examiner Patricia Carter Sluby pays homage to the inventive spirit of African Americans. Beginning with the contributions of enslaved Africans brought to American shores, Sluby introduces inventors and patent holders from all fields up to and including the leading edge of today's technology. Along with such recognizable figures as George Washington Carver and Madam C. J. Walker, readers will discover little-known or forgotten pioneers of devices such as a tobacco substitute, a home security system, and a portable heart monitor. Particular attention is given to the innovations of women inventors and scientists. Products to ease domestic life, promote the efficiency of industrial processes, and improve the safety of leisure activities all bear the hallmarks of these creative minds. Sluby details the plight of inventive slaves during the antebellum and Civil War eras. She juxtaposes their efforts with those of free blacks of the same period. Reconstruction saw significant agricultural and industrial innovations by African Americans, some of which would permanently change American industry. Military inventions during the course and aftermath of both world wars showcase the diversity of minority ideas in an age of rapid technological advances. The closing chapter recounts the ongoing efforts of modern thinkers and their contributions in the high-tech and medical fields at the vanguard of the new century. |
| african american engineers in history: The Athena Factor , 2008 |
| african american engineers in history: Scientists Who Changed History DK, 2022-04-30 Explore the lives and achievements of more than 85 of the world's most inspirational and influential scientists with this innovative and boldly graphic biography-led book. The second title in DK's new illustrated biography series, Scientists Who Changed History profiles trailblazing individuals from Greek mathematicians, such as Archimedes and Hipparchus, through physicists of the early 20th-century, such as Marie Curie and Albert Einstein, to modern greats such as Stephen Hawking and Tim Berners-Lee. Each featured individual has made a major contribution to one or more scientific fields, from astronomy, biology, and psychology, to computer science and geology. Combining elements of biography, history, and analysis, Scientists Who Changed History explains the groundbreaking contributions made by these revolutionary men and women in a clear and informative way. |
| african american engineers in history: US Black Engineer & IT , 1992 |
Africa - Wikipedia
African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. Africa is highly biodiverse; [17] it is the continent with the largest number of …
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Africa is the second largest and most populous continent in the world after Asia. The area of Africa without islands is 11.3 million square miles (29.2 million sq km), with islands - about …
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African independence movements had their first success in 1951, when Libya became the first former colony to become independent. Modern African history is full of revolutions and …
Africa - Wikipedia
African nations cooperate through the establishment of the African Union, which is headquartered in Addis Ababa. Africa is highly biodiverse; [17] it is the continent with the largest number of …
Africa | History, People, Countries, Regions, Map, & Facts | Britannica
5 days ago · African regions are treated under the titles Central Africa, eastern Africa, North Africa, Southern Africa, and western Africa; these articles also contain the principal treatment …
Map of Africa | List of African Countries Alphabetically - World Maps
Africa is the second largest and most populous continent in the world after Asia. The area of Africa without islands is 11.3 million square miles (29.2 million sq km), with islands - about …
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May 14, 2025 · Here is the alphabetical list of the African country names with their capitals. We have also included the countries’ regions, the international standard for country codes (ISO …
Africa - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
African independence movements had their first success in 1951, when Libya became the first former colony to become independent. Modern African history is full of revolutions and wars , …
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African History Africa is a large and diverse continent that extends from South Africa northward to the Mediterranean Sea. The continent makes up one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth.
Africa Map: Regions, Geography, Facts & Figures | Infoplease
What Are the Big 3 African Countries? Three of the largest and most influential countries in Africa are Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with a …
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Africa, the planet's 2nd largest continent and the second most-populous continent (after Asia) includes (54) individual countries, and Western Sahara, a member state of the African Union …
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