Rumor has it that his name is where the term “The Real McCoy” comes from, supposedly … 1972: George Carruthers – principle inventor of the Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph used during Apollo 16’s lunar landing. The camera traveled to the moon with Apollo 16 in 1972. Known as the “Godfather of Silicon Valley,” Clay grew up in Ferguson, MO and became one of the first men to attend Saint Louis University in 1946.

1959: Otis Boykin – patented a type of resister still used in radios, television, and computers. A Black Inventor is Responsible for Several Things You Use Daily. When Woods created the multiplex telegraph, Thomas Edison tried to sue Woods. Categories.

Today, she continues her focus on urban revitalization and her other passions within New York City’s software development community. His invention allowed the transportation of perishable foods such as produce and meats, which changed eating habits across the country. That’s why we’re highlighting 12 prominent tech experts you may not know from history and 5 who are working to bring more talented people of color into the world of tech. He graduated in 1951 with a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics.

Related Links Clay helped launch Hewlett-Packard's computer division in the late 1960s and is known to some as the godfather of black Silicon Valley for helping break down barriers for African Americans in technology. Increasing diversity and stopping hackers dead in their tracks. Without West, rappers wouldn't be able to rock the mic. This technology was later used by George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic to create Terminator 2.

Boykin was a prolific inventor who had 26 patents by the time of his death.

It’s important to remember that though tech may have a diversity problem, it’s never been because of a lack of talent, expertise, or know-how from black professionals. Woods was such a prolific inventor, he is often called the black Thomas Edison. Quentin Parham wanted to start a career in IT, but he didn’t have a clear path from his experience...read more…, The pandemic erased Steffon Fisher's marketing dreams, so he looked into IT careers.

After working in finance for a while, Dr Richards returned to Imperial in 2002 as a Post Doc. If so, it’s Valerie Thomas you have to thank for it.

Mae Jemison meets Nichelle Nichols on the set of Star Trek. There are now fewer black women in tech than there were 10 years ago. His most notable inventions include a wire precision resistor used in televisions, radios, IBM computers, and even in military missiles. As depicted in Black Panther, the country's technology far exceeds that of every other country on Earth. An electrical engineer and computer graphics designer, Marc Regis Hannah graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology before earning his MS and PhD from Stanford University in 1978 and 1985 respectively. This is only a sampling of the many contributions of minorities in these industries: 1872: Elijah McCoy – invented and patented an automatic lubricator for oiling the steam engines of locomotives and ships. While at NASA, Alcorn invented the imaging X-ray spectrometer, which allowed scientists to examine materials that couldn't be broken down into smaller parts for study. The ophthalmologist's invention helped save the eyesight of millions and even restored sight to people who had been blind for more than 30 years.

Bryant was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for Tech Inclusion in 2013 and voted one of the 25 Most Influential African-Americans In Technology by Business Insider. Lonnie Johnson (Born Oct. 6, 1949) Inventor Lonnie Johnson holds more than 80 U.S. patents, but … Among prominent figures are Madam C.J. In 2007 PBS's NOVA made a documentary on his life called Forgotten Genius. Meredith Charles “Flash” Gourdine was a triple threat as an athlete, engineer, and physicist. She would eventually earn a degree in physics and land a job at NASA in the mid-1960s, where she would work into the 1990s. 6855 S Havana St #230 Everything you need to know and expect about. Cyber security poses a remarkable problem, with “black or African-American” individuals making up only 3% of infosec analysts in the U.S. He co-founded Silicon Graphics in the 1980’s and was named the company’s principal scientist.

Synthesis was critical to the medical industry because it allowed scientists to create chemicals that were rare in nature. With a bachelor’s, master’s and PhD in electrical engineering, he began his work at IBM in the 1980’s and was instrumental in the creation of the Personal Computer (PC) with three of IBM’s original nine PC patents. However, their contributions are often overlooked. She passed and helped others prepare for the onerous “literacy test.”, During a career that spanned three decades, she developed and implemented computer code that analyzed alternative power technologies, supported the Centaur high-energy upper rocket stage, and identified energy conversion systems and alternative systems to that were used to solve energy problems, Standing alongside tech giants like Robert Noyce, David Packard, William Hewlett, and the Varian brothers as one of 63 inductees into the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame, Greene is often hailed as one of the “first black technologists.” Greene grew up in the highly segregated St. Louis of the 1950s, where he said, “making it through life was a civil-rights activity in itself.”. In the late 19th century, it was…

Black History Facts. And we do that as a way to predict what’s going to happen in the future . The MIT Black History Project has archived over 3,000 pieces of history related to the black experience at the Institute dating back to the 1870s.

computer science, diversity, Infographic, women in tech In honor of Black History Month, we wanted to celebrate the life stories of some true trailblazers in the world of computer science. She became a leading member of the team that developed the software for the Centaur rocket stage. 1980: Valerie Thomas – patented a 3-D Illusion Transmitter that’s now used by NASA. No one is putting any real effort into them. These seven men and women all played an integral role in the development of the modern computer technology the world relies on today.

“making it through life was a civil-rights activity in itself, particles of radiation would spread through the atmosphere after an atomic explosion, real-life astronaut to ever appear on Star Trek, most prominent black inventors in computer science, board member of Microsoft and major investor in tech, Silicon Republic’s list of 26 venture capital professionals spearheading change in technology investing, How an Army Signal Support Specialist Started an IT Career: Quentin Parham, How One Veteran Landed a Job in IT Just 3 Weeks After Completing Training.

While these numbers are discouraging, it’s important to remember that many people are working hard to affect change and bring more and more dedicated nonwhite experts to tech.

As a 9-year-old in 1948, Carruthers (pdf) became interested in astronomy from reading books on the subject and science fiction comics.

Latimer, who at one time worked as a draftsman for inventor Alexander Graham Bell, would eventually be hired by Edison and continue his innovations in electric lighting.

Nichols was named to the Silicon Republic’s list of 26 venture capital professionals spearheading change in technology investing and has earned a number of other accolades including the Digital Diversity’s Innovation & Inclusion Change Agent award, and being named a member of Registry’s 40 under 40 Top Diverse Talent.

In 1985 President Bill Clinton appointed the physicist chairwoman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, making her the first woman and the first African American to hold the position.

Ironically, the man who helped make the PC popular is now using only tablets, noting in a blog post, "When I helped design the PC, I didn't think I'd live long enough to witness its decline.". we study popular culture as a way to understand consumer behavior. Anyone who owns a Playstation, Wii or Xbox should know Lawson's name. He was the first black cadet to make it through U.S. Air Force ROTC program in 1961 and later became an Air Force captain.

She served as one of NASA’s human, “computers,” beginning her career as a mathematician and working her way up to being Head Computer Programmer and then Program Production Section Chief at Goddard Space Flight Center. One day in 1982 Johnson, an aerospace engineer who loved to tinker at home, was working on creating a heat pump that used water to cool down instead of Freon.

Less than 10 years after Bluford’s first foray into space, Mae Jemison became the first black woman to go into space. That device led to one of the most popular toys ever made. I really want to make people think about young Black and Latino males. Perhaps one of the most notable uses of his work, however, was his control unit for the pacemaker. And then from the diversity or underserved perspective, those groups are growing in numbers and the spending power has always been ridiculous.”. In the wake of the movie, Hidden Figures, groundbreaking mathematicians Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson, and Dorothy Vaughan are finally getting the credit they’re due for calculating the equations that let men like Neil Armstrong get to space.

The initiative aims to reach boys who are underrepresented in the tech field and underserved by other programs. He returned to space one last time aboard the Discovery. The computer engineer helped design the IBM personal computer, introduced in 1981, that became a staple on desktops. It’s time to talk about a tough topic.